John Wierwille brought Caspar, a young Great Pyrenees dog, to watch over his flock of sheep. The dog was a friendly giant weighing nearly 90 pounds, with thick white fur almost as long as the wool on the backs of the sheep he guarded.
Caspar took to the sheep immediately. On the first night Caspar arrived, John saw him rest his head gently on the back of a lamb, as if to say, “Don’t worry, little fella. I will always watch over you.” The dog was really a gentle giant.
The week of the incident, there were ominous signs. A neighbor at dusk reported seeing a pack of 13 coyotes running together near the edge of the woods. This was very unusual because coyotes are usually solitary animals, or run in packs of two or three at the most.
Coyotes are fearsome predators for their size. They survive by hunting and killing other animals. In most cases, dogs are no match for coyotes. If you have a dog you love, don’t let them run loose if coyotes are nearby.
The Battle
At about 2:30 in the morning, John was awakened by growling and snarling outside his house. He pulled on some clothes and boots and hurried out the back door and headed to the sheep pen. In the dark he could barely see what was going on. The sheep were bunched together in the corner of the pasture against a wood fence. They were bah, bah, bahing like they were scared to death. Ten or fifteen feet in front of the sheep, Caspar stood looking away from the sheep and towards a pack of coyotes. His head was lowered, and his back haunches were up in the air as if the dog was ready for action.
John had barely enough time to figure this all out when Caspar bounded forward in a great leap and brought the fight to the coyotes. It happened so suddenly. Snarling, snapping, and a terrible battle broke out. It was Caspar against a pack of coyotes and they meant to kill him. John saw the white fangs flashing in the moonlight. Then he saw Caspar grab a coyote by the back of the neck and instinctively the big dog jerked the coyote back and forth and then flung the body over his shoulder. Once, twice more coyotes were flung up in the air. In less than a minute or two, Caspar had killed three of them. The remaining coyotes lost courage and ran off, yelping, towards the woods.
You would think that Caspar would have let the coyotes go. But no, those coyotes had threatened his sheep and he would finish them off. He chased them into the dark. Soon John could barely hear the sound of the battle far away.
Searching for Caspar
The next morning as soon as it was light, John followed the path of the fight. He found the bodies of three more coyotes. He also found a big patch of white fur which he figured must have come off Caspar in the fight, and also a part of Casper’s tail. John guessed his dog had finally been mortally wounded and had found some secluded place in the woods to die.
For two days there was no sign of Caspar. On the third day, Caspar, wounded and looking like he was on the edge of death, limped into the backyard of his house.
John said the dog looked at him to say, “Quit looking at me in amazement, Master, and just take care of me. I’m hurt.”
John and his daughter washed away the blood and checked out his gaping wounds. Caspar was hurt so badly that, at first, they didn’t think it was possible for him to recover. The coyote’s sharp teeth had torn him open in several places.
They took the dog to the animal hospital. After inspecting the wounds, the vet told John he wasn’t sure he could save Caspar’s life, but he would try. The vet bandaged Caspar’s wounds and sewed up his gashes, but he had to amputate Caspar’s tail. In four weeks, Caspar was able to go home.
The dog put his own life on the line to protect the flock of sheep. The sheep were helpless to defend themselves. He fought against terrible odds and never wavered in his dedication. In recognition of his courage, bravery, and protective instincts, Caspar was awarded the Farm Dog of the Year award.
We Like Sheep
Besides being pretty defenseless, sheep also tend to go astray and wander into trouble. People are like sheep in this regard. “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord [has] laid on Him the iniquity of us all,” reads Isaiah 53:66All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:6). We have all wandered into the paths of sin and shame. Because of sin, the Devil got the power of death over us. He wants to wound us, tear us apart, and destroy us, so that we end up spending eternity in the darkness of hell.
To save us, the Lord Jesus came to earth and stood between us and our enemy. To deliver us from the death we deserve, He gave His life as a ransom on the cross. “The Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:4545For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. (Mark 10:45)). Because the Lord Jesus bravely stood between us and our foe, everyone who believes in His name can find deliverance from the death their sins deserve. On the cross He suffered, bled and died that we might be saved and spend eternity with Him in heaven.
All who believe in His wonderful name receive the gift of eternal life. They also become one of His sheep and part of the flock that He will faithfully watch over day and night in all their journey home to heaven. “I am the good shepherd, and know My sheep, and am known of Mine. As the Father knoweth Me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down My life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear My voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd” (John 10:14-1614I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. 15As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. (John 10:14‑16)).
Those sheep in the pasture behind John’s house were pretty fortunate to have such a big, brave, devoted guardian watching over them. Those who trust in the Lord Jesus are truly blessed because the Good Shepherd watches over them. Neither death nor angel nor man can ever steal one of His own away from Him. “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand” (John 10:27-2827My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. (John 10:27‑28)). There is nothing and no one that can steal a person away from the Lord Jesus.
Do you realize that you have gone astray and need the Savior? Those who believe in His name become His very own sheep whom He will watch over and protect forever. He will bring His own sheep like a flock home to heaven. “Fear not little flock,” the Lord Jesus told His disciples, “it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:3232Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. (Luke 12:32)). Oh, make sure you place your faith in His wonderful name that you may become one of His flock and forever have the Lord Jesus as the Good Shepherd watching over you.
Another excellent story with an excellent lesson can be enjoyed in Leo the Golden.