It’s hard to trust your shepherd if you’ve had bad shepherds.

I think we’ve all experienced that. There was someone who was supposed to lead us, who was supposed to care for us, who was supposed to provide for us, and they were simply not able, or maybe they weren't interested in doing that. Maybe they even used us.

That hurts. And naturally, it colors the way we see our Good Shepherd.

God knows this. He’s not surprised by it, and He’s not wringing His hands hoping we just "come around." In fact, He addresses it head-on in Ezekiel 34.

The Pain of Being Scattered

In Ezekiel 34, God speaks against the leaders of Israel who abused their power. He says:

"Woe to you shepherds of Israel who only take care of yourselves... You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost. You have ruled them harshly and brutally."

We may have experienced this in places where it seemed like we'd be cared for, but instead, we were taken advantage of. It makes it incredibly hard to believe that God is any different. We ask, "God, if these things happened, why should I still trust you?"

And God says: “I saw that. I saw what happened to you, and it was wrong, and it should not have happened. I am against that.”

The Promise of Accountability

Sometimes when we see injustice, when we see those who have power and authority take advantage of people, it seems like they get away with it. We think, where is the justice? How can God let this happen?

But God says in Ezekiel 34:10, "I will hold them accountable for my flock."

This frees me up. I don't have to be the one to carry the burden of seeking justice all on my own. Maybe God will put me in a role for that, but ultimately, God is the one taking responsibility to make things right. The day will come.

God Steps In

God promises that He won't just stop the evil work. He Himself will be the good shepherd. He says, "I myself will search for my sheep and look after them."

If we read the Gospels, we see that God comes Himself as Jesus. He is the one who does these things. The one who tends the flock, the one who heals the sick, the one who stops and pays attention to the broken. If you've been scattered or hurt by a bad shepherd in your past, know that Jesus is stepping in to be the Good Shepherd you always needed.