“You my sheep, the sheep of my pasture, are people, and I am your God, declares the Sovereign Lord.” –Ezekiel 34:31

Throughout the Bible, God speaks of Himself as the Shepherd and His people as sheep. It's a beautiful analogy. Among other truths, it shows that God is watching over us all the time, that each of us is as significant to Him as every other, that we can trust God's judgment as He moves us from one pasture to another, and that He will do whatever it takes to lead us safely home--even if we've strayed from the flock under His care. I find comfort in each of these illustrations of God's character and will. I'm thankful God chose such a clear picture to help me understand His role in my life and my place in His kingdom.

Ezekiel 34:31 shows us one more important truth about God regarding this simple analogy: it is an analogy and God understands this. Our God knows, even better than we do, that the sheep of His pasture are people. Like all analogies, this one has its limits, and God understands this completely. That's important to know. This is why:

I've often heard it said that sheep are stupid, but when God compares us to sheep, He isn't putting us down. That's where the analogy ends. Sheep follow the shepherd because they are trained to do so. For them, it's not a matter of choice. God gave people free will, however. When we follow the Shepherd, it's because we choose to do so. That's why it's important for us to understand the role of the Shepherd. When we join God's flock, we submit to His will. We put ourselves under His protection and care. We go where He leads, often with no questions asked or our many asked questions unanswered. We decide to trust. We want to follow. We know God is worthy of our faithfulness. As a result, God is honored when His people choose to act like sheep.

Lord, this person is thankful that You are her God. I'll follow forever. Amen.