Musing - Don’t Follow the Herd!

Hebraic Musing - Don’t Follow the Herd!

A quick research of “herds and herding” reveals many descriptions and even more reasons.  In summary, animals (& mammals) look for friends who share needs together; and they become bound to the group for protection and direction.

Rabbi Eckstein posted – “Several years ago, Christian blogger Veronica Partridge caused quite a stir. She wrote a controversial post that had been shared more than 100,000 times ….  What was the contentious topic …?  She wrote a piece about why she chose to give up wearing tight-fitting pants.  Partridge described how the conviction weighed heavily on her heart for a long time before she made her decision. After a conversation with some friends and corroboration from her husband that such tight-fitting pants were a stumbling block for most men, Partridge decided to forgo such clothing. She believed that dressing more discreetly was a way to honor her husband and God.”

Whether we agree with her conviction is not the issue.  She took a stand for what she believed God wanted; but because of her stand she was hit with considerable negative public feedback.  Her position was viewed as opposed to widely accepted values of today’s society.  If we are truly God-centered people, will we base our behaviors on what God deems acceptable and not upon the whims of fluctuating societal norms?

Early in the book of Leviticus we hear God tell us “If the offering is a burnt offering from the herd, you are to offer a male without defect.” Leviticus 1:3 NIV   I’ve learned that every word in the Bible is there for a reason, so why does the sin offering come from a “herd” animal?

Jewish sages note that these animals are known for their herd instincts.  They follow the crowd because everyone else is doing so.  Do we need to learn to sacrifice our tendency to follow others, the flock, the herd, etc.?  Should we listen to and follow God instead?  Can we learn to overcome our instinctive desire to conform?  Can we stand up and speak the truth even if we are standing alone.

I can’t help but recall “When the demons came out of the man, they went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.” Luke 8:33    BTW - The herd did not fare too well!

Now if any one of those pigs had decided to not run with the herd but decided to go in the opposite direction, that pig would be thought of as crazy.  When we take a stand for what we know to be right, we might look crazy to the world around us who have simply chosen to follow the crowd. 

Who is in the “hall of Faith” in Hebrews 11?  Abraham, Moses, “Judges”, etc. and what do they all have in common?  They were deemed great and are recognized because they were brave enough to stand alone.

 Points to ponder

How can we learn to overcome a mind-less desire to conform?

Are we more concerned with how we look in the eyes of people,
or in the eyes of God?

When we stand apart for what is right, are really alone?

What will people think?   Or maybe they will think!

♫   Stand up, stand up for Jesus, Ye soldiers of the cross… ♫ 

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                      April 17, 2018

Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”   Weekly “Hebraic Musings”

Note – Inspired by Rabbi Eckstein’s “Don’t Follow the Herd” – IFCJ  March 13, 2018