Sheep and Goats

Since both creatures are kosher, even for Passover, I've always been curious as to Messiah's negative reference to goats.  I've raised both and to be honest, I'm kind of partial to goats.  I've actually referred to my herd as my social life, indicating some of my best friends are goats.  It has been a curiosity that dogs and horses aren't even kosher, but certainly did not receive the negative comparison Messiah gave in Matthew 25.

There are some significant differences between sheep and goats and I've written parable articles about those differences, but it wasn't until I watched Zach's video that something occurred to me.  He said goats are rebellious, I call it adventurous . . . I've been well aware for some time and written about the fact that goats are very ritualistic and sheep are clueless every day . . . but the biggest difference just came to me the other day, when Velvet, my oldest pygmy goat let me know, I was not on schedule with her priorities.

The fact of the difference, hit me like a ton of bricks.  Every animal on the place comes to the feed bucket and manger, so that's no indication of any special reverence, but sheep only bleat aggressively when in danger or at each other.  They always met me at the gate in mornings and came when I called in the evening to put them.  They responded by bleating, but it was always in response to my presence and voice, unless dire circumstances prevailed.  Sheep, for the most part, don't even make a sound when lambing . . .

Goats on the other hand, expect me to meet their demands.  Velvet calls me when she wants something.  I remember earlier this year, as I was preparing the Goshen Gazette for publication Sunday evening, I was running a bit late for milking.  One of my new additions to the herd, Avalon, literally came to my office window, looked in and bleated, letting me know she was ready to go to the milking parlor.  The difference is so simple and yet so profound.

Goats are very friendly and of course, kosher, but they expect me to do their bidding and be on their ritualistic schedule.  And oh, the drama of the kidding season!   As I chuckled at Avalon and met her at the milking parlor, it didn't occur to me, but Velvet drove the point home just last week.  She expected me to respond to her incessant bleating.  She had food, she had water, but I had failed her in her scheduled ritual and she was letting me know.

With that, I asked YHWH, how often I sound like Velvet to Him.  How often do I really have everything I need, but I just "want" something and continue to use Scripture that mentions importunity and boldness before the throne?  I don't do it like I used to, but still . . . How often is my timing out of synch with Him, but I want something to happen NOW!  How often do I bring up a topic that I said, I trusted to Him?

I don't want to sound like Velvet, I want to respond to my Shepherd.  Our Creator knows our voices.  The question is, do we know His?

And when he puts forth his own sheep, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.