Does God Shun His Children? ∙
O Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive, so full of unfailing love for all who ask for your help. – Psalms 86:5
Micah 7:18-20
Where is another God like you, who pardons the guilt of the remnant, overlooking the sins of his special people? You will not stay angry with your people forever, because you delight in showing unfailing love.
Once again, you will have compassion on us. You will trample our sins under your feet and throw them into the depths of the ocean!
You will show us your faithfulness and unfailing love as you promised . . .
Understanding Shunning: A Deliberate Act of Social Rejection
Shunning is the deliberate avoidance of someone, often accompanied by social rejection and abandonment. It typically involves severing ties with the individual and cutting off all social interaction. Unlike banishment or exile, which involve physical separation, shunning emphasizes social isolation.
Shunning typically happens when accepted rules or standards are broken, serving as a clear reminder of the consequences. Historically, the Amish have used shunning for serious offenses such as marrying outside the Amish community, adultery, excessive contact with outsiders, and drunkenness.
The Father’s Infinite Patience and Mercy
Will the Father ever shun, turn away from, His children? Can a sheep from His flock wear out His patience? Certainly not! The Father’s heart overflows with boundless mercy, patience, and kindness. His infinite compassion is inexhaustible. When faced with sin, His love and grace pour forth in abundance.
Romans 5:20: “As people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant.”
The Worst Sinner? Not You!
Have you ever thought, “I am the worst sinner that ever lived”? You are not alone in feeling this way, but that title has already been claimed by the apostle Paul himself. While it may sound shocking, Paul declared this about himself, and the Father inspired his words. Often, our self-rejection comes from guilt and discouragement, but Paul’s story offers hope.
1 Timothy 1:15: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, and I am the worst of them all.”
Paul further explains that if anyone could have exhausted the Father’s patience and deserved to be shunned, it was he. Yet, his life became a testament to the Father’s perfect patience and mercy.
1 Timothy 1:14-16:
“The grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.
But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.”
REFLECT & PRAY
Isaiah 53:6: “All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own.”
Father, thank You for Your boundless patience and forgiveness. In the face of my sin, defiance, and rebellion, You respond with unwavering love, always seeking to restore me.
INSIGHT
The Purpose of Sheep: An Object Lesson
Have you ever considered why sheep were created? The Father designed them as object lessons, living illustrations of human behavior. Sheep are among the most helpless and dependent creatures. They easily get lost, fall prey to predators, and require guidance to find food and water. Without the care of a shepherd, they are desperately vulnerable.
The Father created sheep to reflect the way people often behave. Like sheep, we are prone to wander, make poor decisions, and find ourselves in peril. Without the love and devotion of a wise and caring shepherd, we would be hopelessly lost.
The Good Shepherd: The Father’s Perfect Answer
The Father offered the perfect solution to humanity’s tendency to wander and find itself in challenging predicaments. He sent His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, as the Good Shepherd.
John 10:11: “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep.”
The parable of the lost sheep serves as a poignant illustration of the Father’s unwavering pursuit of His wayward children. It highlights His relentless dedication to seeking out those who have strayed, demonstrating an immense love and compassion that knows no bounds. This narrative encapsulates the profound relationship between the Father and lost sheep, emphasizing the lengths to which the Father will go to reclaim His lost wayward children.
Luke 15:4-6:
“What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?
When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices.
And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’”
To truly grasp our need for the Good Shepherd, we must recognize and admit that we are like lost sheep, vulnerable due to our own folly and obstinacy. These lost sheep face constant peril, highlighting the shepherd’s essential role in seeking them out and guiding them safely home.
The Father’s Joy in Restoring the Lost
The Father finds great joy in reuniting with His wandering children. His excitement and pleasure in restoring a close connection with His creations are vividly illustrated throughout the Scriptures.
What is the Father like? What kind of person is He? How can we characterize his personality? Through His words, actions, and examples, He continually reveals His heart. Comprehending His character brings comfort to those who feel troubled or lost, or adrift.
Contrary to what many may wrongly think, the Father is not a wrathful or vengeful figure poised to punish us. Instead, He is a gracious and loving shepherd, diligently seeking out, gathering, and restoring His lost sheep. As the ultimate Good Shepherd, His sole desire is the well-being of those who belong to Him. He wants only their best!
Communal Flocks and the Celebration of Restoration
In the first century, many flocks were communal, belonging to entire villages rather than individuals. These flocks were often cared for by two or three shepherds. If a shepherd failed to return with the flock, it was understood that he was searching for a sheep that had gone astray. This search became a concern for the entire village, as they anxiously waited for the shepherd’s return.
When the shepherd finally returned with the lost sheep draped across his shoulders, the village erupted in celebration and thanksgiving. This imagery powerfully depicts the Father’s joy when a lost sinner is found.
Stanley ponders what the Father is like. He concludes that the Father is like a loving shepherd who does everything in his power to bring His lost sheep home, “That is the picture Jesus drew of God; that, said Jesus, is what God is like. God is as glad when a lost sinner is found as a shepherd is when a strayed sheep is brought home. As a great saint said, ‘God, too, knows the joy of finding things that have gone lost.’”
The Father’s Kindness Surpasses Human Standards
In the first century, religious leaders were often harsh, judgmental, and unforgiving. They shunned and belittled those they considered unworthy, like tax collectors and sinners. Instead of trying to redeem them, they wanted to see them destroyed.
In contrast, the story of the lost sheep highlights the Father’s incredible kindness, which goes far beyond human understanding. While people may give up on others, the Father never does. His heart overflows with joy when a lost one is found and brought home.
Luke 15:32: “He was lost, but now he is found!”
The boundless mercy and grace of the Father are inexhaustible, regardless of how far we may wander from His guidance. His infinite patience serves as an exemplary model, encouraging us to place our faith in His unwavering love and to extend that same grace
to those around us.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯7-05-3
© Dr. H 2026
Dr H Reflections 