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 We purchased a new farm in the summer of 2004. The house, barn, and property were all in need of repair, as you can see from the fencing in this picture. Most of the fences were not adequate to keep 5 horses and a miniature donkey contained.
As I worked to repair and replace the fences I began to think about how the horses viewed the fences, versus how I viewed them. Well at least how I imagined the horses viewed them based on their behavior, since I can't really tell exactly what my horse's reasoning abilities are.
My assumption was that the horses viewed the fences as a nuisance, something that kept them from doing all the things they really wanted to do, such as visiting the neighbors, tromping through their yards and gardens and eating all the delicacies they would find there.
From my perspective the fences were designed to protect, not restrict my horses. As you can see in the picture, this field is right next to a road. My horses are not aware of the dangers that roads represent. If they were able to, they would love to go beyond the fence and graze right along the road, totally oblivious to the fact that they would be putting their own lives and the lives of people traveling down that road in danger.
My horses may even imagine that I really don't like them very much since I make them stay inside these fences. They can't understand that it is really my love and concern for their welfare that motivates me to fence them in and to ensure that the fences are strong and sturdy so they will not be able to go beyond them. They may see life inside the fence as dull and boring and have illusions about how great life would be on the other side of the fence.
Now, if we admit it, we are as foolish as these horses at times. Hasn't God provided many fences or boundaries in our own lives, and we, in our ignorance, have failed to perceive them as coming from a loving Father who desires what is best for us? If we would stay within the boundaries God has set for us, how much better would our lives be? Rather than longing to go outside those boundaries, why can't we remain within them, feeling safe and secure in our Father's provision and protection? I read Deuteronomy recently and was struck by how many times God made that very point.
Deuteronomy. 4:40 “Thou shalt keep therefore his statutes, and his commandments, which I command thee this day, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days upon the earth, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, forever.”
I challenge you to remember the lesson of the fences. My fences are there to keep my horses safe and secure, to keep them from dangerous situations. That is also our Father's motivation for the commandments and guidelines He has set out for us in His word.
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