The Shepherd Adventures: Four Hundred Yards and One Voice
- Gary Ritchie
- Nov 11
- 3 min read
I had a surreal moment today up on the farm. For the past month I have been giving a group of thirty lambs a five gallon bucket of feed each day. When I stepped out the back door of the barn, I saw the lambs on a far away hill about four hundred yards away. I wanted to feed the lambs at that specific time as I did not want to make another trip. I also did not want to pour out the feed in the event only a couple of lambs wandered down and would eat too much. In the moment, I decided I would call out the sheep and see if they could hear my voice. I gave an incredibly simple command, “Come on!” I had to make the call three or four times and finally a few heads perked up and looked my way.
I started walking to the feed troughs and continued to call the lambs. And suddenly, with the movement of only one lamb, she slowly started coming to me. It only took one to take the initiative. For when she moved, all of the others started following, initially in a single file line. As they got within two hundred yards, the single file line turned into a small flock running to reach me. It was such a powerful and beautiful moment.
I had a similar experience that took place yesterday afternoon. I received a call from my friend who owns the farm connected to my back boundary. He told me that I had fifteen ewes that had been on his pasture for a couple of weeks. He told me where he had last spotted them. I knew I was possibly in for a long afternoon and a lot of walking as his farm was a sprawling 1200 acres.
I was hopeful that I could take a five gallon bucket of feed and try to get the sheep to follow me. After searching the farm, I came upon the ewes about three quarters of a mile away from my boundary. The farm had steep hills that would have been very difficult to walk. As I neared the sheep, I called them with the usual call, “Come on!” Immediately they began coming toward me. I jumped in the truck and started driving through the field. If I started to get too far away, they would stop following, as if they lost the sound of my voice.
I was thrilled and amazed. Although I had to take it very slow, all fifteen of the sheep followed the voice of their shepherd, even over the loud roar of my F350 diesel truck. As long as they could hear my voice, they would follow. I bragged later, that I did not even have to walk. I rounded the sheep up with very little effort. What a blessing! The two events back to back reminded me of scripture that talks about Jesus being the Good Shepherd. John 10: 14 states: “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” I was given a first-hand glimpse of that truth. It also dawned on me that not only did the sheep recognize my voice, they enthusiastically followed me.
I had another observation about three weeks ago when I started feeding the lambs daily. On the first day, when I called for the lambs, they completely ignored my call. On the second day, a few took notice and looked my way, but none followed. But on the third day, when I came out with feed and made the call, the entire flock came running. Holy Spirit prompted me in a quiet voice, “They are following because the shepherd feeds them.” I have come to learn that I follow the Good Shepherd first because he loves me and I love him. But selfishly, I probably follow him because he NEVER neglects the flock. He feeds me everyday and I never miss a meal. We feast daily with his presence. I have had the first hand experience of Psalm 34:8 Taste and see that the Lord is good.
Do you know the shepherds voice? Have you tasted to see that the Lord is good. I have also enjoyed watching the church in which I pastor follow the voice of the Good Shepherd. All in one move, all in one accord. It is a thing of beauty and definitely pleases the Lord. Prayers that if you have not, that you find the flock God has given to you.
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Have a blessed day!
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