How does a sheep go astray?

Question

"All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all'' Isaiah 53:6

GREG M: yes I have a response. WHAT?

Answer 1

Ever been around sheep? Once they start eating they will just walk where ever and soon be 'astray' from the rest of the herd. They are certainly not the sharpest knife in the drawer so to speak. Unfortunately for us it doesn't take much to get them to go astray so I guess God knew exactly what He was talking about when He compared us to them.

Answer 2

You understand the analogy that God is like a shepherd and we are like his sheep right? Well, if you've ever visited a farm or studied sheep you know that sometimes sheep are a little stupid. If they are out grazing in a pasture and see something distracting, they will more than likely wander off from the safety of the herd, fall in a ditch somewhere, break a leg, and finally get eaten by some wild animal.

When this verse compares us to sheep, it is making an analogy to how we are in the "herd" or body of Christ. If we see something tempting (say...porn, premarital sex, smoking, cursing, etc) we are very likely to end up trying it, drifting further and further from God, and basically get tangled up in every evil thing Satan sends our way. That is how we go astray. We turn to what we want to do, instead of what is RIGHT to do.

The last part of the verse says that the Lord knows we do this. Instead of leaving us tangled in the sin (like leaving an injured sheep lying in the ditch) he let Jesus take all our sins so we could be forgiven, even though it was our fault we drifted in the first place.

Answer 3

When the Bible was written, raising sheep was like the biggest business in the world. There are lots and lots of figures of speech that would be obvious to someone who raised sheep but are obscure today.

For instance, the line in the 23rd Psalm, 'He leadeth me beside the still waters'. Sheep won't drink from running water. So if you are herding sheep beside a river you have to find a place where the water is calm to get them to drink!

To raise sheep sheep you would take them out into meadows every day for them to eat the grass. You had to watch them to make sure they stay together. Occasionally a sheep would wander off by himself, and at that point you had to go looking for it, hoping you find it before a wolf did. The stray sheep becomes more important than the flock, as in the parable of the Prodigal Son. Isaiah is saying we are -all- like stray sheep, we've left the flock and gone our own way. Which is good in a way because it means that we're all -special- to the shepherd, in this case God.

Answer 4

My grandpappy always said that "astray is in the eye of the beholder. The sheep herder looking to turn you into mutton might call you astray. If you are the sheep then you are just making a desperate bid for freedom."

Answer 5

By allowing the mind to wonder.
2Co 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
We allow THINGS to take the place of our passion. We become preoccupied with the cares of this world.
Everything begins with a thought.
It then becomes an action.
An action becomes a habit.
A habit becomes a destiny.
That is how we go astray! We do not cast down imaginations,
or, bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.
It all begins with a thought.

Pro 4:23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

Answer 6

We, the sheep, go astray when we take our focus off the Shepherd and listen to those around us who don't even hear His voice.

Answer 7

A sheep is pretty dumb, and needs the guidance and protection and direction from his sheepherder. Sheep go astray because they CHOOSE to go astray.

Answer 8

when one loses his track of life, especially when you feel that God has left you with all problems that you believe you can no longer handle. people tend to lose faith in God when all else fail. we tend to lose a grip on life and that is when God gives us the opportunity by opening another door or window for us to follow. we may not realize it then and there but we just have to ask for guidance and that we need to be more sincere with our prayers to God. every time God wants us to put something down, it's because He wants us to pick up something greater =)
when we seem to have had it all, we almost always tend to choose the wrong way and sometimes, other people blame it on God but little do we know that He is just testing us and He wants us to become a better person. it's because we go or do things our way when we all know that God's will will be done and therefore, we make our own path not realizing that God has already guided us. so, take and think first before doing something, and trust in God for He will make our paths straight. we take our way of things, let God guide you. ask for His help always. Take care.

Answer 9

every lost person is a sheep gone astray (everyone is a lost sheep till they accept Jesus as Savior).
Jesus wants christians to go find the lost sheep and help them find Jesus.

Answer 10

Sheep are dumb. They wander around aimlessly. They don't pay attention to the surroundings. In a spiritual sense, we are not aware of the spiritual warfare going on around us. We don't see the enemy and we give in way too easily to his temptations. We try to walk in our own power and then wonder why we fail. True faith lets go of everything but God. When we fully trust in Him, everything works together for good.