Scouting the Divine

I just recently finished reading Scouting the Divine by Margaret Feinberg.  The author wanted to know more about the stories in the Bible of shepherds, honey and wine, so she visited a shepherdess, a beekeeper and a master vintner to do some research.

I learned from the book that sheep really do know their master's voice, and depend on him to keep from going outside the boundaries into dangerous territory.  This is what Jesus, the Good Shepherd, does for Christians.  His desire is for us to know his voice, and to trust him to keep us safe.  He knows it is our tendency to wander off on our own, but He knows what is best for us, and wants to keep us safe.

I also learned how amazing God's design of the honeybee hive is.  Each bee has a specific purpose, and devotes its life to fulfulling it.  And the hive depends on each bee playing its part.  If God put that much planning into a hive, think how wonderfully made we are.  Surely God has a plan and a purpose for each of us, and we definitely need one another to accomplish God's will.

Finally, I got deeper insight into the meaning of vineyards in scripture.  Vines take years to produce high quality grapes.  To get the best grapes, the vines have to be pruned very carefully.  God is the one who prunes us.  He loves us deeply, and knows just what needs to cut and trimmed in our lives.  He also knows it takes time.  We can't expect God to make us a mature Christian overnight.  But in time, He will develop us into what He sees best.

I encourage everyone to read Scouting the Divine for a richer understanding of the love of God and His holy son, Jesus.

God Bless.