Searching for Lost Sheep

“Google Maps won’t work, and you won’t have cell coverage,” our Muslim friend Mohsen warns us. “But don’t worry; you’ll find our home.” 

We begin the journey to his family’s remote village, driving for two hours along winding desert roads with mountains rising on both sides. The only way we know we are nearing the destination is by the upward tick of the trip odometer nearing the estimated travel distance Mohsen gave us.

“Wait, I think we must have just passed it,” says my wife Jessica from the passenger seat. A quick pull-off, a three-point turn—and now we’re heading back to what we hope to be the right road.

I greet several men with nose-to-nose touches.

We drive along the gravel road and come to a small collection of houses. Mohsen’s car is parked nearby, along with several others. He’s outside to welcome us. It’s a local holiday, and city dwellers have returned to their hometowns to feast with their entire families.

Mohsen invites me into the men’s seating area, where I greet several men with nose-to-nose touches. It’s a show of honor and deep respect.

Meanwhile, someone whisks Jessica away to a separate room full of women and children. She greets each woman with several kisses on the cheek.

We sit and chat as guests come and go throughout the day. Whenever new visitors arrive, everyone stands to exchange holiday greetings. With each round of guests, more food appears. Hospitality here is not in short supply.

“I’ve covered every crevice and corner looking for lost sheep.”

After a traditional meal of lamb and rice, served from a large communal platter on the floor and eaten by hand, we take a short trek to a nearby wadi or seasonal stream bed.

Along the way, Mohsen talks about how he has climbed every mountain in sight looking for sheep that have wandered off and gone missing. “I’ve covered every crevice and corner looking for lost sheep,” he says. His family has over 70 sheep and just as many goats.

“If one of them doesn’t come home at night, I know exactly which one it is,” Mohsen continues. “I don’t have to count to know that one is missing. Each one looks different.”

He tells us how he and his brothers—and sometimes the entire village—will venture out into the mountains to find a missing sheep, hiking all day until it’s found.

I tell Mohsen about the Shepherd who loves His sheep with relentless passion and devotion. I share from the Word about how He searches for His lost sheep.

“What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.” — Matthew 18:12–14

We arrive at the wadi. Mohsen tells us that in the summertime, the rains fill the pools. They’re deep enough that young shepherds will dive in on hot days and swim as their sheep drink and lie beside the waters.

We marvel over the beauty of streams in the desert and wonder at the tender love of a Shepherd who won’t stop until each one of His lost sheep is found.

• Please pray for lost sheep in the Muslim world, and ask the Lord to show them that the way to salvation is through Jesus Christ, the Shepherd.
• Pray for whole families in Muslim communities to put their faith in the Savior.
• Ask God for spiritual breakthroughs in lands where movements to Christ have yet to emerge.
• Pray for more Gospel messengers to go to the least-reached peoples and places to share Jesus with Muslims.