"Sheep to slaughter", it's not what you think.

"Sheep to the slaughter", are they really ignorant Lambs?

When you hear someone say “It was like leading sheep to the slaughter” do you tend to think it means the people\sheep were stupid? Well, I can tell you, if that is what you’ve always been taught, today you can celebrate finding out the truth. You see, it is not the sheep who are stupid!

One of the earliest records of the phrase being used outside biblical context was by President George Washington in 1783 when he tried to warn against the banning of freedom of speech;

"The freedom of speech may be taken away, and dumb and silent may be led, like sheep, to the slaughter." - George Washington

The context here was not that sheep are stupid; instead, "dumb" means without speech. In essence; not speaking up, not having a say, not voicing your opinion. Regardless of the circumstances or outcomes, they moved silently. There have actually been several studies that have proven, unequivocally, that sheep are very intelligent. They display a unique ability to create families, communities, protection of one another and in several instances, their memory has proven to be as good as a human. They are anything but stupid. Unfortunately, President Washington's quote has been taken out of context. But wait, there is more to the story.

Have you ever heard the name, “slaughter goat”? A slaughter goat is a goat that is put in the field with a herd of sheep. When the Sheppard calls out, the “slaughter goat” will lead the sheep into the pen and get them…… you guessed it, slaughtered. This is where most would say, " The sheep are so stupid, they just follow the goat to their death." But let’s evaluate.

Why does the Sheppard need the goat? Why can’t he just call up the sheep? It's been proven the sheep can recognize and distinguish voices of many different people. So why can he not call them up? Mainly, because the sheep may hear him, but refuse to come. For whatever reason, there would appear to be something that causes caution, and it's not stupidity. The sheep are not in the field standing around gazing into the sky with thoughts of nothingness running through their heads. They are living and going about their lives. Eating; protecting each other; creating families and communities, basically minding their own business. And just because someone calls out and offers something new, doesn’t mean they will stop what they’re doing and come running. I believe they call this cautious and content.

But then, there's the goat. The goat, on the other hand, is quite different. He is in the same field, eating the same God provided meals, and yet, when he hears the calls of this Sheppard, he immediately gives up what he has and hurries to something new. Thus, here comes the trick.

You see the sheep are not stupid, they’re deceived. The goat is placed among the sheep to live with them, eat with them, sleep and survive among them. His personality is much more active, volatile, often alarming. He is constantly keeping the sheep on edge and on alert. When something new happens, the actions of the goat cause the sheep to either be excited or to fear. Sometimes both. Day in and day out, the sheep have grown accustom to goat. To this point he has not led them into any danger, although he may have caused them to over-react at times, but that's okay. But then, a voice calls out. It's a voice many of the sheep may recognize, but refuse to respond to. But not the goat. When the Sheppard of death calls to the goat, the goat displays all different emotions and physical actions. All of which stir up the sheep. When the goat takes off running toward the pen, the sheep, probably in confusion, follow. Some because of curiosity and some out of fear. To their dismay, they find themselves deceived by the actions of the one who is not like them. After the goat has led the sheep in to slaughter, he is place among another herd to eventually do the same.

Who is stupid hear?

Consider the goat. Never satisfied; always looking for something new; always reacting to what he considers to be free; always leading others to trouble and death; manipulated by the Sheppard that gives false hope for life; never considering what will happen if he is unsuccessful; never realizing he has no family. There will come a day, when he is no longer needed and he too will be slaughtered. Time after time chasing free and new food, chasing the temporal pleasure, and time after time losing everything he has grown accustom to until the day comes when he will suffer as well. Always following the voice that causes death and destruction and he runs right to it as if he never knew any better.

Which would you rather be? The content, cautious sheep, or the unsettled, danger stricken, lonely goat? You would think, at sometime the goat would just not go. Unfortunately, he’s not that smart. He has gotten himself trapped. Now, it’s either trick others to follow in destruction or die trying.

In our lives, workplaces and faith, there will always be “slaughter goats”. Those who move among you, earning your trust, becoming your friend, your confidante; who are always selling you on the next best thing. Always going against what you feel is safe but somehow making it seem like it's still okay. Always stirring the masses and leading them straight into a situation that will cause confusion, destruction of families, livelihood, and lives. All the while knowing those who follow will probably do so without a word. They know the ones that follow are not stupid, on the contrary, possibly very intelligent. Therefore, deception is a must. They must convince the followers/sheep of the excitement in the temporary pleasures, or, cause them to fear the thought of not following along. Like the slaughter goat, this manipulative person/people are ignorant to their own future and submit to the false guidance of the voice that leads to destruction. Question is, how quick are you to follow? If you are reactive to excitement and emotions run your life, there could be trouble ahead. If you live in fear and react to every since of confusion, you will surely be led astray. Do you go silently as "sheep to slaughter"? Not because your stupid, but perhaps deceived. Perhaps not even deceived, just unwilling to speak up.

Spiritual aspect:

So when did the phrase "sheep to slaughter" show up? President Washington got it from

Isaiah 53:7, "Like a sheep being led to the slaughter or a lamb that is silent before her shearers, he did not open his mouth."

There are also many times the Bible references believers as lambs. You should know, when God speaks of His children as lambs or sheep, stupidity is not in the reference. However, there are examples where He talks about leaving the herd to find the one lost sheep. The lost sheep is referenced to the one that was deceived.

Think about that for a moment; How easy is it in todays times, with everything that is going on and all the misinformation, agenda's, fear and hype that is bombarded into your day, to be led into a false since of excitement or fear? The slaughter goats of society are in mass. But thankfully the Bible says Gods sheep know His voice.

John 10:27, "My sheep listen to my voice, I know them, they follow me."

His sheep are not easily deceived by the actions and emotions of those who are not like them. They do not react to a voice that calls out with temporary pleasure and draws them into death. They are not quickly stirred into fear. Fear may be near, but they do not succumb to that fear and become afraid. Instead, they are content, cautious, protective of the family, strong in community, resistant and resilient. Even more, protected by a Sheppard that wants them to prosper, not die. They are not stupid Lambs. The only time we will be silent to death is when we die to self, to exalt the Sheppard that also stood silent as He was led to slaughter for our sake.

Remember, as it turns out, the utmost intelligent leader ever known to man and to have ever stepped foot on the fields of God, the Only Begotten Son of God……… was a Sacrificial Lamb.

Satan is a “slaugher goat”.                      Goats are stupid.