The Sheep Hear My Voice.

This morning, my friend, John Wood, missionary and Bible translator for Wycliffe Associates, shared a wonderful illustration. He compared a relationship he has with his pet dog. 

It’s an impressive analogy that he drew upon. He was finishing up his veterinary appointment with his dog at a local veterinarian hospital in which somebody commented about his relationship being likened to a parent and a child. He quickly drew exception, and said, “No, more accurately, it is the relationship between God and His creation.” He reminded us that in Genesis the responsibility that we have to God’s creation is to have dominion and care over it. It’s a delegated responsibility.

Further, he went on to explain that dogs are pack animals and it’s important that the animals know who the alpha is in the relationship. Animals respond through obedience, but also they develop trust much like humans do with God. To clarify, John shared that we although we do not understand fully our relationship with God, because He is infinite, but in some small way in our finite to finite relationship with our pet we can gain some understanding. 

John’s devotional gave way for me to reflect upon the scripture of the Good Shepherd. A while back, I preached several sermons related to the relationship that is talked about in the story of the Good Shepherd.

John 10:11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.”

Our son, Jon is a Deputy and K-9  handler for a county Sheriff Department. In recent years, we’ve had many discussions about his relationship to his canine partner.

One of those conversations that we shared related to how his K-9 is specifically trained to respond to the commands of his handler. This relationship is such a tight bond. No other person can give orders to the dog. My son said to me something that is very profound. He said, “My dog knows my voice and only responds to commands at the hearing of my voice.” He further illustrated and he said that “everything that I have on my body, including my weapon and my taser can be used against me. If a suspect were to take my dog from me however, my k-9 cannot be taken from me and used against me.”

This relationship is similar with the good Shepherd. Jesus indicated that the sheep know His voice. Sheep like dogs are pack animals. 

Our relationship with our heavenly father is easily illustrated through both what my friend John Wood shared in his devotional, the experience that my son has with his trained K-9 and The sheep and the God Shepherd.

This is the lesson for us today. We should have a relationship with our God who is the Alpha and Omega. Our relationship should be such that we know the voice of the good Shepherd. It is further convicting in that the Good Shepherd lays down his life for His sheep. Of course, we know that Jesus will be the gate that will protect the sheep who are within the shelter of the fence. It’s important to note the role of the Shepherd as provider and protector.

One thing further that we can drop on in this analogy is that God is our protector from predators. The one defense that sheep have is that they can cluster together so that the wolves will see them as one large unit, but if you were to ever separate one from the group, they become vulnerable. 

Many times we feel that we do not need to be with others, but it is clear that we must remain in the fold, that is the fellowship of others, in order to find protection within the group