Photo Credit: Smart Araromi
Once, whilst studying the life of Amos the prophet, who was a gardener and shepherd by profession, I learned a little about shepherds and some of the tough choices they have to make in ensuring the safety of their flock. Every now and then, Amos will look around studying the grazing herd only to realise for the umpteen time that a pair was missing from his flock — an old dame and her kid. Then he would go in frantic search of the strays, worrying and praying earnestly that he finds them before the wolves do. On one particular occasion, as Amos rescued the old dame and her kid, he knew he would have to do something quickly about this stubborn dame who constantly led her kid astray; he didn’t want the little lamb to learn her ways of habitually breaking rank and going into the wild. So, after chasing off a pack of wolves, he quietly though painfully puts the dame to sleep. He killed her. With bitter tears rolling down his cheeks, Amos picks up the fragile frightened lamb and heads back to the ’99.’
The above account isn’t found in the Bible. This particular story of Amos is the one according to the gospel of Francine Rivers.😊 From the Sons of Encouragement series — The Prophet is a powerful account of Amos as seen from the perspective of a Spirit inspired creative writer and scribe.
This shepherd vs. straying sheep analogy came to me at a time when I began to notice the true colors of this young man I told you about. The one I wanted to make a research assistant and hoped to mentor. This was before I recognised God’s replacement. One day at work, I called him aside to address his behavior. I said to him, “I am your superior and if you would let me, your mentor also, don’t get too familiar with me…” After our tête-à-tête, which didn’t exactly end well, he stopped greeting me. He would come into the room say hello to others and act as though I wasn’t there. At meetings he stopped contributing but sat there swiping his phone. Because he was such an intelligent young man with so much potential it hurt to watch him spoil what could have been a good thing. However, seeing his growing obnoxiousness and ill-manneredbehavior, I knew I had to let him go. It was such a painful decision for me to make. I could totally relate with Amos’ sadness. Reading that experience was a signal, I knew what I had to do. I put an end to all conversations about my book project and talks about hiring his services. I also discontinued all one-on-one attempts at mentoring, giving counsel, or rebuking as the case maybe. I simply watched.
But that wasn’t the end of it, the rest of the team began to learn his ways. You could tell from their body language that he had an influence over them.
Then another guy joins the team. Shortly after my boss introduced us, asking me to absorb him into my unit, I soon realised they were friends — the new guy and the stray. So, without thinking twice, I dealt with the new guy with a long stick. And it wasn’t long before he unpacked his smelly, pungent baggage of impertinence and insolence. Here’s what happened:
The ministry was about to begin a major campaign around the state. And different teams were mobilised with funds to help cater to different groups. I particularly had a tight budget to work with because I had to buy mobile phones for a few people who had critical issues. So, when I learned that this new guy, who apparently ran some kind of organisation, had also been mobilsed, I was relieved to take him off my list. And the next thing, he storms into my office, and what I saw and the things he said were alarming to say the least. I’ve never been disrespected like that before. And to make matters worse, the rest of the guys didn’t see anything wrong with what he did.
Instead they came to plead asking that his name be put back on the list. Amidst their mediation, the brute makes two more visits to my desk, shouting, pointing a finger in my direction, reeling off words however they floated into his mouth. And when he walked out, his voice could be heard by all within the complex. I watched in astonishment. I messaged my colleague and he asked me to ignore him. I began to message my boss, but stopped. He wasn’t in and I preferred I spoke with him face to face. But before then I waited to get home where I could speak to Abba. Just before I left the office, my PA came to me and says, “he is saying… he is saying that he is going to beat you…” I smiled and said to him, “he is only saying it but he wouldn’t try it…” On my way out of the office, two of my colleagues were of the opinion that I speak to my boss but not before they said things like, “but just be careful… these guys are thugs, they can arrange boys to come after you… so be careful…” And if you understand the Bayelsa terrain, you will understand what that means.
I got home and I lifted my voice to God in prayers. I presented the matter before the court of Heaven. I remember saying something like, “Lord, Judge between me and XYZ… Give me justice…” After praying, I waited. During campaigns like this, we the core team met severally with my boss to review our next steps. I knew we would be meeting that night. Then the phone call came, my boss had called for a meeting. After our deliberations, and we were about dispersing, my colleague whom I’d texted earlier in the day presents the matter to my boss, and my boss goes, “What?!..was he shouting at you?” And before I made a full sentence, he was like, “give me his number…it’s like we’re going to cut this guy off if he’s not going to behave himself…” I called out the number and my boss dials it. And right there to my hearing he gave the guy the blasting of his life. “Didn’t I give you 1million Naira to mobilize your NGO? And you’re still fighting for small, small change…” And that was how that matter was resolved. I didn’t raise my voice, and I didn’t have to throw a punch. The Lord’s intervention was so swift, I could literally feel a wind of relief coursing through me. It was like God slammed his fist down on the matter with a great bang! Like a judge would slam the gavel in court to call for order.
You see why I say I have tasted of His power? Cause indeed I have.
And there’s more.
Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
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