Israel trip - Shepherds

I have always loved the image of the Good Shepherd.

"He tends His flock like a shepherd:

He gathers the lambs in His arms

and carries them close to His heart;

He gently leads those that have young."

Isaiah 40:11

Allen's grandmother gave me this old painting.

"I am the Good Shepherd; I know My sheep and My sheep know Me."  John 10:14                                  

As we left Jerusalem, we came upon this field with sheep grazing in it.

 There was a flock of goats in another field. 

 "He will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats."  Matthew 25:32

Our bus driver parked the bus and we got out and walked to look over the field.  

The shepherds came to see what was going on.

While our driver visited with the shepherds, Jim spoke to us about sheep.

This is a sheep fold.  The sheep are placed here overnight to protect them.  In the Biblical times, there were leopards, bears, wolves and lions in the land.

 Jim B. sits in the "gate" of the sheepfold.   

"The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep.  The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice.  He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.  When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice."  John 10:2-4

"Jesus said again, 'I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep....I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved." John 10:7,9

 The donkey keeps the herd calm.

We came across many shepherds while we visited Israel.  The Bedouin live in shacks, but we were told that they are really quite wealthy people.

Little children are taught how to take care of the sheep.  As each sheep can cost $500-$600 each, the children first tend their flock close to home.

 

As they become more responsible, they are then able to take the herd further away from home.

My friend, Joyce, gave me the painting below.

I love that He is a Rescuer.

"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep." John 10:11

 I could not resist purchasing the shepherd with lamb olive wood figurine to bring back with me to put beside the photo of my "little lambs".