May 2026

"Know that the Lord Himself is God … we are His people and the sheep of His pasture."
~ Psalm 100.3

Good morning,

Poor sheep! Over the years, they've gotten a bum rap.

The Bible uses a dozen different Greek and Hebrew words when mentioning sheep. Not only were they a mainstay in Israel's daily life, but also a critical element in following the Mosaic Covenant. Scripture mentions sheep over 500 times, far more than any other animal.

Today, however, sheep are stereotyped as simple-minded, docile dummies that lack individuality and mindlessly follow the flock, completely unaware that hungry wolves see Lamb Chops for Dinner written all over them.

But that couldn't be what God had in mind when He called us His sheep. After all, why would the Creator, who made us in His own image, use a derogatory metaphor to describe "His people … the sheep of His pasture?"

There must be more to sheep than meets the eye. And, sure enough, there is …

• Sheep have a highly developed sense of direction. They can navigate a complex maze faster than humans, and flawlessly remember the course months later.


• They self-medicate when necessary by carefully selecting medicinal plants to eat.


• They can hold a strong bias. If a feeding trough from a hostile location is moved to a safer spot, the sheep will avoid it simply because of its previous association.


• They have advanced cognitive skills. Sheep can solve problems, perform complex tasks, and adjust to new rules when the shepherd changes their routine.


• They have deep emotions. They experience fear, boredom, anger and happiness. They can grieve and suffer depression. They form deep bonds and will fight for other sheep when bullied.


• They have highly specialized sensory systems. Sheep can independently rotate their ears to pinpoint an exact sound. They have panoramic vision and can see behind themselves without turning their heads.


• They have extraordinary memories. Sheep can remember up to 50 other sheep by sight … including those seen only in photographs. However, when a sheep looks in the mirror, he draws a blank.

And just as sheep are underappreciated, so are those who lead them.

Shepherding is a challenging job. There's a constant need to provide food and water, to guide them to safe pastures, to protect the flock from dangers, and to seek out the lost and injured sheep.

As important as shepherds were in biblical days, they were despised at times … through no fault of their own. When Joseph invited his extended family — all of whom were shepherds — to come to Egypt to survive the famine, he knew Pharaoh, and the pretentious Egyptian elites, would push back. "For every shepherd is loathsome to the Egyptians" (Gen 46.34).

But the truth is, shepherding has produced a long line of great leaders.

• Abraham was a shepherd. He uttered no prophecy, gave no laws, wrote no book and sang no song. Yet God called him "the father of the faithful" (Rom 4.16).


• Isaac was a shepherd. He was also a willing participant when God asked Abraham to sacrifice him to the Lord. Because of that, God was able to say, "I will establish My covenant with him" (Gen 17.19).


• Jacob was a shepherd. He was shamefully deceiving at times, but he was also a man of faith. (Heb 11.21) Fittingly, God renamed Jacob (which means heel-catcher) to Israel (meaning God's fighter). (Gen 32.28)


• Moses was a shepherd. Even though he was well into retirement age, God sent him to confront Pharaoh and lead the Israelites out of Egypt. (Ex 3.1, 10)


• David was a shepherd. Yet God had Samuel anoint him as the future king of Israel, to the surprise of his stunned family. (1Sam 16.13)


• And, of course, Jesus is "the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for His sheep" (John 10.11). He's also "the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls" (1Pet 2.25).

No, there's no greater role than being a shepherd, and that's why God allowed us to be one.

Blessings,