Fear of wolves is called Lupophobia. Wolves scare people because they are powerful predators that live in intimidating packs out in the wild. They are a wild carnivorous mammal belonging to the dog family. Do we really need to be afraid of them? Although wolves are very shy and wary of humans and do not identify humans as prey and even have been known to run away from them, occasionally they have attacked humans if the opportunity has presented itself. Thus, it is wise to avoid them if possible as they can be unpredictable.
Wolves prefer to eat large, hoofed mammals such as deer, elk, bison, and moose. They also hunt smaller mammals such as beavers, rodents, and hares. An easy prey for them, though, is domestic livestock—sheep being a favourite as they are “easy prey.” They are easier than other prey to catch and kill. And so, sheep should be very afraid of wolves.
To understand the fear of wolves better, we will contrast them with the sheep.
Sheep on the other hand are quite the opposite. They are very docile. They also are social animals, living in flocks and find it stressful to be isolated from their flock. They feed by grazing on low-growing vegetation. By nature, they are gentle, loyal, sensitive, and sweet. They learn to love their owners, actively seeking human company and affection when they have known safety and love. They are also highly intelligent.
In the Bible, God’s people are often compared to sheep. “Know ye that the LORD He is God: it is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.” Psalm 100:3 “For He is our God; and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand.” Psalm 95:7
While we are called sheep (adults of the species), Jesus is the Lamb of God (the young of the species, that is less than one year old). John the Baptist introduced Jesus by saying, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” John 1:29
Why we a sheep and Jesus a Lamb? When is a sheep slain? When is a lamb slain? Sheep are the ones that are more commonly slain for food. A Lamb is slain throughout the Bible as a sacrificial offering. A lamb was presented as a sin offering, when a person sinned. During the daily service in the temple, a lamb was slain in the morning and evening sacrifice. Thus, in the Bible, a Lamb is a sacrificial animal—not for food, but for religious services.
Of Jesus it is written, “He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth: He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He openeth not His mouth.” Isaiah 53:7. In this verse Jesus is compared to a sheep going to the shearers and as a lamb to the slaughter.
Lambs are normally not shorn, only full-grown sheep. Although it can be a bit stressful it is good in the end.
Sheep shearing keeps the sheep happy and healthy. Shearing does not hurt the sheep if the shearer is good and does not cause cuts or injury to the sheep. While not actually enjoying the process, the sheep benefit from having the fleece removed once a year. Without shearing, the wool coat would become uncontrollably matted and tangled, and this can impact the sheep’s health. A heavy, matted coat can restrict blood flow to the limbs resulting in sores and wounds that can prevent the sheep from enjoying full mobility. Thus, Jesus went willingly, not only as a Lamb to the slaughter, but as a sheep to the shearers. “Though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered.” Hebrews 5:8. Jesus did suffer much, and we too may have to go through discomforts in order to have a healthy and happy Christian experience.
Sheep are totally lacking in protection from predators such as wolves, coyotes, eagles, bobcats, lions, bears, domestic dogs, etc. They are one of the few animals that do not have a defense system and are helpless on their own. When they are faced with danger such as a wolf, their natural instinct is to flee, not fight. It is the same in the spiritual flock of Christ. “But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.” Matthew 9:36. Thus, to be safe, they need a good fence around their sheepfold and when out grazing, they need the constant watchful eye of the shepherd.
Sometimes while grazing, sheep have wandered from the flock unintentionally and have gotten lost. Just like the sheep, we also can wander from the flock (church) unintentionally and lose sight of the watchful eye of the Shepherd. We get busy with what is in front of us, our own business and the cares of this world, and the sheepfold and Shepherd are less important than the green pastures in front of us. “I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek Thy servant; for I do not forget Thy commandments.” Psalm 119:176. “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way.” Isaiah 53:6. We are helpless without Christ—the Good Shepherd.
One of Jesus’ most comforting parables is about a lamb that strayed so far it became lost. The wonderful truth is that Jesus is our true Shepherd (Read Psalm 23). He left the ninety-nine sheep in the fold and went in search of the one lost lamb (Luke 15:2–17). “He shall feed His flock like a shepherd: He shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.” Isaiah 40:11
Good shepherds make many sacrifices to make sure their flocks are safe. Jesus has promised to take care of His flock of sheep. He said, “I am the good shepherd, and know My sheep, and am known of Mine.” John 10:14. And also, “I am the Good Shepherd: the good shepherd giveth His life for the sheep.” John 10:11. The Good Shepherd will do what it takes to protect the sheep, even if it means laying down His life for them. Jesus made a great sacrifice for you and I. He gave His life for our redemption. He died on the cross so that we can live with Him forever. “To Him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear His voice: and He calleth His own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.” John 10:3
One of the most beautiful descriptions of the Shepherd and His sheep is written in the book, The Desire of Ages, under the title “The Divine Shepherd.” Here is an excerpt. “As an earthly shepherd knows his sheep, so does the divine Shepherd know His flock that are scattered throughout the world.
“Jesus knows us individually, and is touched with the feeling of our infirmities. He knows us all by name. He knows the very house in which we live, the name of each occupant. He has at times given directions to His servants to go to a certain street in a certain city, to such a house, to find one of His sheep.
“Every souls is as fully known to Jesus as if he were the only one for whom the Saviour died. The distress of every one touches His heart. The cry for aid reaches His ear. He came to draw all men unto Himself. He bids them, ‘Follow Me,’ and His Spirit moves upon their hearts to draw them to come to Him. Many refuse to be drawn. Jesus knows who they are. He also knows who will gladly hear His call, and are ready to come under His pastoral care. He says, ‘My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.’ He cares for each as if there were not another on the face of the earth.” –The Desire of Ages, p. 479
There is a false shepherd, though, that we have to beware of. “But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.” John 10:12–13
The wolf will come. Without a good shepherd, in the face of a wolf, a sheep will be in great danger. If the wolf is so frightening that the hireling runs away, what chance do the sheep have when faced with the wolves? “Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of Me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.” Matthew 26:31
Let us now read more about the wolf that we ought to be afraid of.
Wolves are mentioned in the Bible in several places, and they have a negative connotation—vicious. “Her princes in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain.” Ezekiel 22:27
“Benjamin shall ravin as a wolf: in the morning he shall devour the prey, and at night he shall divide the spoil.” Genesis: 49:27. The tribe of Benjamin was known for its warlike character. They were expert archers and slingers.
The Apostle Paul said, “For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.” Acts 20:29. Paul warned the leaders of the church to stand strong because false shepherds and hirelings will come to try to destroy the flock. The hireling is no match for the wolf, but the true shepherd stands his ground in defense of the helpless sheep. False prophets and false religious leaders are equated to wolves. They seek to devour the faithful sheep. The unconverted leaders do not protect the flock. They only protect themselves. When they see danger, they flee.
Jesus said, “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” Matthew 7:15. A wolf in sheep’s clothing is someone who comes in a very friendly, docile manner with the intent to deceive. Their likeness to sheep is only external. There is not a change in their hearts, but they only have the appearance of being a sheep, for the purpose of deceiving the sheep and lulling them into a false sense of security, in order to devour them with greater ease. These wolves are wicked at heart. It is their purpose to harm the sheep, in order to bring benefit to themselves—greedy for gain and for power.
Satan was very adept at that as he was successful in deceiving one third of the angels with a cloak of righteousness. Self-righteousness, that is. He then successfully deceived Eve into thinking that God did not have their best interest in mind when He forbade them to eat of the Tree of Knowledge. Today, he continues to deceive the masses of people in the Christian world who believe his two main lies of the immortality of the soul, and that you can sin and not pay, because the law of God has been done away with.
David describes these “wolves” like this, “The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.” Psalm 55:21. They are kind to your face, but have evil intent. Jesus was betrayed by one of them. “Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of Man with a kiss?” Luke 22:48
These types of people who are wolves in sheep’s clothing could be a good friend, a family member, a church member, or co-worker. Anyone who influences you in the wrong direction in a very subtle manner and tries to tell you that it is ok because it is only a small sin, or a small deviation from the straight and narrow pathway, is a wolf.
There are wolves all around us, ready to pounce on us. Thus we need the Good Shepherd at our side at all times. “Yea, for Thy sake are we killed all the day long;
we are counted as sheep for the slaughter.” Psalm 44:22. Sometimes the suffering we go through is not a result of our sin, but because we are the children of God. Jesus said, “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated Me before it hated you.” John 15:18
Jesus did not tell His disciples to flee from the wolves. He asked them to face the wolves. He said, “Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.” Luke 10:3. “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves.” Matthew 10:16. Luke wrote that we are sent as lambs among wolves and Matthew wrote as sheep among wolves. Jesus sends all, the lambs (the young ones, and those new in the faith) and the sheep (mature ones) regardless of your age or the length of time you have been in the church.
We are not sent as humans amongst wolves. That would be less frightening. No, we are sent as sheep amongst wolves. A sheep or lamb in their right mind would not dare to wander into a pack of wolves. It would mean instant death. The hungry wolves would pounce on the sheep in an instant and tear it to pieces. Why would Jesus then say we are to go as sheep among wolves? Is it so that we can be torn to pieces? Not necessarily. If we have the Good Shepherd with us, the wolves cannot hurt us. But some of them may cease their wicked and ferocious ways and repent of their sin.
When the Lord asks His servants to go as sheep among wolves, He is asking them to do difficult tasks. A task which may go against the grain of their nature. He asks them to come out of their comfort zone and do a task that may seem formidable. For example: Jonah was sent to Nineveh. I am sure that he likely felt that he was being sent as a sheep amongst wolves because the Ninevites had been cruel enemies of Israel. When the Lord asked him to go, he initially ran away. After spending several nights in the belly of a whale, he repented and went. The Lord blessed Him. He was not torn to pieces, but a great revival occurred in the city.
Elijah was sent to the palace of King Ahab, alone, with a message of doom. Moses was asked to go to the court of Pharaoh, the greatest monarch on earth at that time—to ask for the deliverance of his people. Daniel was in the King’s palace in Babylon and faced possible death when he rejected the king’s kind hospitality, refusing to eat his food. You can read many more instances where God sent His servants into dangerous places in the Bible.
Also, throughout history, you can read in books like The Great Controversy, of many sheep that were sent among wolves. For example: Martin Luther was called before the Diet in Worms, Germany. He was a sheep sent among the wolves, and the wolves were thirsting for his blood, but the Good Shepherd was with him and protected him. He left the city alive. They could not touch him. The Waldenses were a peace-loving people who could have decided to stay in the safety of their mountain retreats and live a peaceful life, but no, they went as sheep amongst the wolves to spread the gospel. Sometimes the sheep were spared, but other times they fell a prey to the wolves, but the Good Shepherd was beside them at all times and their death was a witness to many others who decided to enter the fold of Jesus and become sheep in His pastures.
Today, we also are sent as sheep amongst wolves. A sheep detects a wolf as an enemy and fears them. Their natural instinct is to run away, as Jonah did. But we are not to run. We, as sheep, will be sent amongst wolves. We may be sent somewhere, or be asked to do something that we fear greatly, but we are called to face our fears and go. If the Lord sends us somewhere or asks us to do something, He will not leave us alone to face the wolves, the trials and troubles, alone. “I sought the LORD, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.” Psalm 34:4. We are not to turn back in fear and say we cannot do it, or we are not qualified and someone else should do it who is more qualified. No, Jesus will ask us to do more and more difficult tasks as we near the end of time. We will have to face our fears and go forward. The world is not a place to sit back and relax, not if you are a true follower of God. The wolves are on your track and you are asked to face them.
Thus if you are asked to do a duty you are not comfortable with, do not decline. The Good Shepherd will be with you. God will not call you into a position that He will not help you to fulfil. On your own, you will fail, yes, but with Jesus by your side, all that you do will prosper spiritually. All that He asks of you will be successful and produce fruit.
Wolves see a sheep as food when hungry and they pounce on them. Evil people will be hungry for the blood of saints, especially in the time of the end. The Lord sends you among them. These are religious people, not the heathen. The heathen do not care so much. The religious people feel condemned and are the ones who will be ravening wolves. It was the religious leaders in the time of Christ, who were the most thirsty for His blood. It was the nominal Adventists who betrayed their fellow members to the government, those who would not join the military effort in World War I—many losing their lives as martyrs. It will happen again in the end of time. It may be our family, our former friends, or former church members who betray us to the wolves, but do not fear. The Good Shepherd will be with you.
Do not fear the wolves of this world. The Great Shepherd is with you. He will carry you through. “But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and He that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art Mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.” Isaiah 43:1–2
Does that mean that we will have no trials? We will not die a martyr’s death? Jesus has promised to be with us, and we will not be overwhelmed by the difficulties we may face. Although they may seem major, they are very minor in the grand scheme of things when you think of, and contemplate, the eternity beyond. We may lose our lives, but our faith, trust, and love to God will not be quenched. It will not be burned. “Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it.” Song of Solomon 8:7. “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For Thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:35–39
When we get to heaven, what will we see? “The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent’s meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, saith the LORD.” Isaiah 65:25
“The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.” Isaiah 11:6
The animals will all be docile in heaven. The wolf as well as the lamb. Perhaps some angry wolves on this earth will be converted and become docile as lambs and thus be granted entrance into the kingdom of heaven. We are not to fear being sent to the wolves. Some have lost their lives, as did John the Baptist, but he was called the greatest of all prophets and will find his place in heaven with all the redeemed host.
Do you have Lupophobia? Are you afraid of the wolves? “Fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul.” Matthew 10:28. “Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” Revelation 2:10. The Good Shepherd is with you and one day you will be able to witness the wolves and lambs feeding together in the new earth. May you and I be found there. Amen
Wendy Eaton