The Bible's use of "sheep" about 500 times to characterize
human beings is not entirely complimentary! At their best sheep are
affectionate, agreeable, peaceful, and attractive. However, on a daily basis
they are relatively defenseless, in constant need of care and supervision,
easily startled and flustered, and silly. Moreover, they often make stupid,
pathetic decisions: they eat poisonous herbs, run in circles or over cliffs,
and lay down and smother each other. Sheep often get lost and must be led to
pasture. They often have a hard time remembering whom to follow; slaughter
houses have used goats (so-called "Judas goats") to lead whole flocks of sheep
to their deaths at the butcher's block. The very quality and destiny of
sheep's lives depend upon the kind of shepherd they will follow.