The Good Shepherd
Jesus often used images found in daily life in the New Testament to teach. He pointed to water, light and a door. Jesus would use parables to get people's attention and was a master storyteller. Jesus tells us in John 10 that he is not a shepherd who is a hireling. In other words, the sheep are his and he puts himself at risk to protect them and watch over them. In fact he says, "even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep." John 10:15
Jesus would go on to say that his sheep understand and know his voice. They aren't fooled by imposters who seek to lead the sheep astray or steal them. He says they won't follow a stranger. This is something every person living in those days would know, that the shepherd and sheep have a very close bond. The sheep could be led by simple voice commands. Jesus said, "When he puts forth all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him becasue they know his voice." John 10:4. This goes back to the practice of shepherd mixing they're sheep at night and then calling them out by name in the morning to go out to pasture.
Then the thought occurs to me, that the Shepherd leads best when he is in front. The sheep don't tell the shepherd where to go. In fact, they may very well walk right off a cliff if allowed to. The shepherd and his staff are there to protect from danger and to guide. I've gotten into trouble a few times when I wanted to be out front. It must amuse God that I want to lead when I don't know the way. It is just as dangerous though as being too far behind. Our goal is to stay close to the Lord. That is how we hear his voice.
I think it is pride and maybe some anxiety that causes people to act first and then listen for God's voice. The first king of Israel had that problem in the person of Saul. The story is located in 1 Samuel 13:8-24 where Saul grows impatient with waiting on Samuel to come. There is a delay for some reasont that we are never told and Saul becomes fearful, so he acts in haste. It is for this reason, that the kingdom is taken from Saul and given to the next king, a man named David.
"But now your kingdom shall not endure. The Lord has sought out for Himself a man after His own heart, and the Lord has appointed him ruler over His people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you." 1 Samuel 13:14
So, how do we respond when there are seemingly delays in answers to prayer? Do we realize that sometimes waiting is in order to build up our faith? For us to show that even if we think God is silent it doesn't mean he is not at work? Most great theologians and giants of church history have always talked about when God appears silent. Early years, there is great bursts of insight and growth and it seems God is writing his will in neon colors. Later, the neon sign is taken away because we don't need it anymore. The feelings may be gone because God doesn't call us to walk by feelings, but by faith.
