6: “Are we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned everyone, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
7: He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth. He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent. “ Isa 53: 6,7
Experience 1: Isa 53:6
The significant of Christ as our Sheppard came alive to me this year. In Ethiopia, livestock is a source of wealth, food, and well being for the people here. Nothing can explain Christ unconditional love for us than the good Sheppard. Sheep live up to their general characteristic. They are absolutely one of the dumbest animals in the kingdom.
It was a typical Gimbie day. Work in the morning break for lunch at 1:00. I was down at my house preparing for lunch, when I heard the bleeding distress call from a little lamb. A pack of wild dogs came unto our campus. Apparently did they not get the “mommy memo”- don’t play with your food. The mother lamb was nowhere to be found, and the little, redheaded-Sheppard was nowhere to be found as well.
At first I tried to not notice the bleeding sound, but being the animal lover that I once use to be, I had to do something. I started throwing rocks at the pack of ravenousness dogs. Believe it or not, once the dogs scampered off became the real challenge- catching the unwilling, retarded little lamb.
After hours of chasing, and what felt like gallons of sweat pouring off my back, the worn-out lamb and the blonde headed-Sheppard were past the point of exhaustion. If only the lamb knew I was there to protect him, if only he knew I was there to take him back to the flock.
How many times is Christ there to protect us, to guide us, to lead us to the eternal flock? How many times will we run away because we want to do our own way? There is a way that seems right to man, but leads to a tasty meal, and there is a way that is right for God, and leads to eternal meal at an overflowing banquet table.
Trust in the Good Sheppard. Follow Him to eternal happiness.
(The little wooly lamb returned safely to the flock)
Experience 2: Isa 53:7
In Ethiopia all celebrations start with an innocent sacrifice of a lamb. Here at Gimbie we wanted to celebrate and uplift the wonderful, dedicated OR staff. A team from Florida Adventist Hospital came to Gimbie and conducted 25 prolapsed uterus surgeries in less than a week. This was something to celebrate.
They brought the lamb to me early that morning, first mistake. I had all morning to stew over the fact that this innocent animal was going to the slaughter. He was happily eating away at the grass outside my front door, when judgment was cast down upon.
I wasn’t brave enough to watch them slit his throat and drain out the blood. But, being around that made Christ’s greatest sacrifice vibrant and real. Even though this was a sad moment for my bonding lamb and I, it made me realizes the sacrifice and the blessing that comes only from the Precious Blood of Jesus.
Praise His Holy Name that our sins are blotted out with the Lamb’s blood.
