Lessons Learned from the Sheep and the Goats

I was talking with the Holy Spirit about, “What does the sheep and the goats teach the shepherd?”

I dug in and what I found was quite revealing. …for me at least.

I thought, “When it comes to sheep herding, why not go to the far east and learn from that culture?” There is a whole lot to learn from sheep and goats. If we are looking and listening in life, there is always something to learn. In human nature, one can consider the wayward, self-seeking and knuckled-headed people to be goats, and the docile, easy-going and dependent people to be sheep. Sheep follow and goats…?  Well...  

Looking through Scripture, you can see how the animal sheep and the animal goats of Israel (and likewise, grafted in people) are teaching the shepherds many things about human nature. The responsibilities of leadership are vast! There is always something to learn about animals. There is always something revealing in people that will require the shepherd to help change or correct.

A true and invested shepherd will apply (and often did) and employ the contrasting natural behaviors of sheep and goats as a powerful metaphor for the faithful and the wayward.

Consider the many lessons a sheep will demonstrate for another. If we are watching closely, each lamb will open the eyes of the shepherd as to how to meet the needs of that animal.

Biblically and in modern farming, lambs, rams and sheep are known to be shepherd dependent and trust that person. Have you noticed how sheep run in flocks? They are not notorious loners, they look at the other sheep, especially if the shepherd is not close enough to be seen and heard.  Every lamb, ram and sheep look at the shepherd for guidance, food, water, and safety.

They (sheep) teach the shepherd that people often need a leader to guide them to sustenance and protect them from danger, as they are vulnerable when left to wander on their own.

Per Scripture, sheep are generally obedient and learn to recognize and follow the shepherd's voice. This highlights the value of discipline, humility, and the willingness to be led by GOD’s Wisdom. Trusting the path that has been worn by the shepherd is always the best choice. Choosing our own way will always limit the understanding we are to gain from staying close to the voice we have come to know and learn.

The Hebraic term Kehilla is what is used for believers to “gather together”. The Greek to English word is called church. Since sheep are communal by nature, they usually tend to stay together and become agitated if separated from the flock (one another). This reflects the importance of groups of similarity and the idea that GOD's people are a unified flock, meant to support and remain connected with one another.

Sometime back, I mentioned how sheep will sometimes show tendencies of goats. Here is a reminder. That is not a good thing.

Watching goats is honestly quite entertaining, but don’t turn your back to one. The lessons learned from the goats are a bit alarming.

There is a reason why goats are not spoke kindly of in the Word of GOD. 

Subsequently, there are reasons why witchcraft, the occult and the like use the goat head as part of the pentagram symbol.

Goats want and like their independence. By nature, they are quite stubborn, and are more outsiders, curious, and self-willed; and will be seen wandering off on their own to browse different areas and challenge boundaries. Everything I have witnessed, heard from the farming profession and read, echoes the same details of their personalities.  

Without a doubt, they educate the watchful shepherd about the human tendency towards pride, self-reliance, and disobedience, which can lead one astray from the right path. You know, the one worn by feet of the shepherd.

There is way more to be aware of for the goat than the lambs and sheep—in my opinion.

Due to their confrontational and unruly nature, goats can sometimes create disunity within the flock or even injure sheep.  I mentioned before, “they are aggressive.” This temperament illustrates how individuals who reject GOD’s (and good shepherding) guidance and act selfishly can disrupt the harmony and well-being of the larger community.

Every person is vastly inexperienced when it comes to managing a farm. There is much to know. Each farmer and sheep herder is untrained and in great need of discernment. Arrogance DOES NOT fit in the field, when watching, training, feeding, protecting and watering sheep and goats.

Fear, overconfidence, pride and a lackadaisical approach will cost the flocks and herds quite a few lives.

To an "untrained eye," sheep and goats may look similar when grazing together. This teaches the shepherd the need for careful discernment, as not everyone who appears to be part of the community ("within the common herd of believers") is truly committed to following the Shepherd's Way.

The shepherd learns that the ultimate separation is based on actions and inner attitudes, which will be revealed at the time of judgment.

Ultimately, the sheep herder learns that effective leadership requires both compassion for the vulnerable sheep and firmness in dealing with the unruly goats (and goat acting sheep), mirroring the godlike task of guiding humanity toward righteousness and eternal life.

NOTE: Through these observations, shepherds develop an intimate, individual knowledge of their animals. This learning allows them to manage their mixed flocks effectively during the day and separate them for specific needs at night.

The shepherd’s goal for both personalities is to find the more accurate and environmental balance for the sheep and goats. The safety of the entire group (body) is what the profession of the sheep herder is.

By consistently re-integrating the goat into the fold and making certain the sheep are not agitated but made to know and feel safe, the shepherd can teach both animals and people their boundaries. This continuous act of guidance and prevention will allow both types of people to work and live in the same place until the appointed time comes to separate them for the intended purposes of the owner.