THE NATURE OF SHEEP
When God choose to use sheep to symbolize people, we must assume that it was not a random choice. Just like he chose to use wild beasts, vultures, and other meat-eating birds to represent religious leaders, he choose meek, passive sheep to represent people who are unjustly enslaved and oppressed by those religious leaders.

Looking at the natural, behavioral characteristics of sheep, it becomes clear how they can be led, abused and misused by religious leaders. And, from their natural instinct to flock together, we also see why they tend to organize in religious groups.

After we consider the characteristics of sheep, the benign, cuddly imagery begins to fade. If we recognize that we have in fact been following a shepherd who is only a hired hand, we will want to choose to listen to a shepherd who counsels us to listen to God’s voice.