The Unlikely Herd – in 3D!

1 Samuel 22:2

“All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their leader. About four hundred men were with him.”

Ice Age was about an unlikely herd who decided to stick together despite their differences. Manny the Mammoth was the careful, Diego the sabre-toothed cat was the carefree and Sid the Sloth was the careless. They were soon joined by opposums, more mammoths, and one-eyed weasel in three installments of adventure full of hits and pits, wits and misfits. Can’t wait for the Continental Drift next year :>

In the cave of Adullam, David too found company in an unlikely herd of 3Ds. Misters Distressed, Misters InDebted, and Misters Discontented gathered around him - - all four hundred of them. It’s hard enough to bear one’s burdens, it’s harder still to drag along those heavily baggaged. Imagine calling everyone for mealtime and hearing these throw lines:

     Mr. Distressed: I wonder if this will be our last meal together.

     Mr. In Debt: Who will be paying for all these?

     Mr. Discontented: Can’t we find a more decent meal?

But God saw it fit to make David their leader. These men needed no more pulling from their already miserable states. God may be cooking one big plan with David as main ingredient, but that doesn’t mean He’d care less for the herbs and spices. As team players,  don’t we all need someone to push us beyond our self-inflicted limitations?  We all have pressing, personal issues and it wouldn’t go away even if we attend to it fulltime. Don’t wait for your problems to stop before you start serving God. That time may never come. Did you notice His names are Refuge, Strength, Peace, Wisdom - - and not Convenience? This goes for David too. If he were given a perfect control group, how else could he learn kindness, patience and love?  If Jesus did not became friends with sinners and mentor to twelve unlikely men, how else could He claim to be able to sympathize with our weaknesses, tempted in every way, just as we are – but without sin.

When you look at the people around you, what do you see? They’re not your ideal herd right? But why do you think these careful, carefree, and careless men flock around you?  Exactly because we're of the same feather hiding under God’s wings! No one is better off than anyone. We are actually one with everyone. We don’t wait for a better herd to come. We can make ours a better one by caring now. Love those 3D glasses - - life becomes larger with those!