Psa. 32:8&9 [ RSV  NASB  NIV] .

God is a God of revelation. He does not like secrets! His desire is to teach us His ways and reveal things to us that we do not know. In Jer. 33:3 we read: "Call to Me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things, fenced in and hidden, which you do not know." In Rev. 4:1 we read: "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place in the future." When the Lord looked at Abraham, He said: "Shall I hide from Abraham [My friend and servant] what I am going to do?" (Gen. 18:17). You see, throughout the Bible we find God in the business of revelation. In fact, that is what the Bible is for! It is God's Word and gives us revelation into God's dealings with man.

Wow! Think of it! God wants to teach you. The Source of Intelligence. The Master of all known and unknown disciplines taught in all Universities around the world. The One who established the laws of nature. The One who set the stars in place. The only One who can really speak with authority on any part of the human anatomy. The One who took dirt and made a system so advanced that it still amazes the scientists: the human body. Someone so great that He measured the universe with the span of His hand (His thumb to His pinky) (Isa. 40:12), yet small enough to dwell within your heart! This same God wants to teach you and show you the way you should go.

Something that always blows my mind is, that in light of the fact stated above, so many people still decide everyday to follow their own heads, and do their own thing, as if they know so much. If only they can get a grip on the reality that God knows better, and He wants to make that better knowledge available to them. This brings us to the important part God wants to teach us today:

"Do not be like the horse or the mule who lack understanding..." Psa. 32:9

Horses love to run. In fact, in Bible times, the horse was the fastest means of transportation. They were also the symbol of power and strength. They could out run anything. Many people live their lives like that. They love to run. If something happens they do not know how to handle, they run. When circumstances get to tough to deal with, they run. Some run to alcohol, some to drugs, others just run, never settling down. In fact, many people find it very hard to sit still. It seems as if something is chasing them. Busy, busy, busy, even in times set aside for rest. I know many people, who in their over-eagerness to get things done, out run God in the process and end up on their own and in trouble.

Horses are ridden. In fact, the jockey determines the pace, direction, and destination. So many people have jockeys in their lives showing the way. Some are driven by ambition and pride. They will do anything to get on top. Some are driven by fear. Some by bitterness, hate, and unforgiveness. Fact is, this lifestyle will always end up in slavery. You become a slave of the rider on your back. The rider stays comfortable; high and dry, while you have to plow your way through the muck and mire, getting dirty, tired, and being driven without mercy. A horse is used by people to get somewhere or carry something. Unfortunately, there are so many people being used in the same way!

The Bible says: "Do not be like the horse that lacks understanding." Remember, the Lord wants to teach you and give you understanding, but you will never understand God's plan and purpose for your life while you live your life like that of a horse: Always driven; always running.

The Hebrew word the Bible uses for mule literally means: "to separate or divide; to be out of joint." It possibly comes from the lonely habits of the mule. Isn't that so typical of mules? They are loners. While horses are always running, it seems like mules are always pulling! They are slow to come into motion and stubborn as can be. To get them to move in a certain direction, many times you have to entice or trick them with a carrot or something nice. They do not like change. They would rather stay where they are. Does that sound familiar?

There are many people like that. Always pulling back on anything and anyone. When God says: "Let's go this way," they pull the other way. When the pastor suggests a change in the liturgy on Sunday, they stubbornly hold onto their religious tradition, pulling as hard as they can. They'll bite and kick to get their way!

They are usually very negative people. They will see the clouds instead of the silver lining. They will evaluate the sermon instead of their own lives. When they think of a traffic light, the only color they see is red. Usually they love to refer to "the good old days."

Mules will always lack understanding in the things of God.

The Bible says the only way to get a horse and a mule to come with you is to put a bit and bridle in their mouths. They have to be ridden or driven to reach the right destination. God is not someone who drives or rides a person. He is gentle and loving. Sometimes He has to exercise His awesome love by pulling us in the mouth as it were. It was never His intention to be hard or even harsh with us, but if we choose the life of a horse or a mule, then we have to expect the bit and the bridle from time to time.

The Lord wants us to be neither horse nor mule, but rather sheep. John 10:2-5 says: "He who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. The watchman opens the door for this man, and the sheep listen to his voice and heed it; and he calls his own sheep by name and brings (leads) them out. When he has brought his own sheep outside, he walks on before them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. They will never [on any account] follow a stranger, but will run away from him because they do not know the voice of strangers or recognize their call."

The Greek word used for sheep means: "to walk forward; to advance; to go farther." When I saw that, something jumped inside of me! God calls His followers "His sheep." No wonder, because by default, a sheep walks forward! The sheep advances with the Lord by following Him, going farther than ever before with his eyes on Jesus, who is leading the way!

A horse has a rider, a mule has a puller or driver, but sheep have a shepherd! Someone to follow. Think about it. The shepherd walks in front, leading by example; removing all dangers and trouble from the road before the sheep gets there. Sheep are never driven. There is no need. They follow their shepherd. Circumstances or problems cannot dictate the direction of life to the sheep following the Lord.

The natural habitat of sheep, according to Encyclopedia Britannica, is the pastures high up on the mountain. That means if sheep could choose their own food, they would choose the food on the mountains. That is very exciting! As sheep of the Lord, our natural habitat is not the valley of despair, nor the open field of temptations, nor the stormy water of the sea of problems. Your natural habitat; the place where you belong, is the mountain! The high places in God, where He leads you beside still water and makes you to lie down in green pastures.

Sheep need plenty of water. In the Bible regions, the shepherds had to get their sheep to water very regularly. As Christians, we need the living water of the Holy Spirit continually. We cannot go without it. John 7:38 says: "He who believes in Me [who cleaves to and trusts in and relies on Me] as the Scripture has said, From his innermost being shall flow [continuously] springs and rivers of living water."

The Bible says the sheep know the voice of the shepherd. They are not without understanding! They follow the One whom they know. You may never have a complete understanding of your circumstances with all the answers to the questions of life, but you will understand the love of God and the importance of following the Lord to the green pastures and living water.

The last thing I want to mention about sheep is this: Many species of sheep have a natural layer of oil around their skin. This oily substance will cover the skin and form a protective layer around them. The oily substance will even rub off on you if you handle the sheep. In like manner, there is an anointing all around the sheep of the Lord. This anointing is powerful and forms a protection around us to keep us out of harm's way. It enables us to do all the Lord wants us to do.

Friend, what are you? A horse, always running? A mule, always pulling and kicking? Or a sheep, always following the Lord? Get rid of those horse and mule characteristics in your life and be like sheep, listen to and follow the voice of the Lord.