在蘇格蘭布羅拉村一處險峻的懸崖下，有一隻綿羊需要救援。這隻綿羊被困在懸崖腳下，一側是陡峭堅硬的岩石，另一側是一望無際的海洋，牠已經獨自受困了兩年之久。雖然人們曾數次試圖拯救牠，但始終無法接近牠。直到一位堅毅的農夫卡米（Cammy Wilson）與四位朋友同心協力，成功完成了這項危險的救援任務。他們其中一人留在懸崖上，另外四人帶著極大的勇氣，小心翼翼地從約250米高的懸崖垂降到下方，用絞盤機將這隻綿羊從困境中拯救出來。

這群堅毅且富有同情心的農夫拯救那隻受困的綿羊，使我聯想到我們慈愛的天父滿有憐憫。在耶利米書23章1-3節，先知耶利米譴責猶大國那些作惡的領袖如同惡劣的牧羊人「殘害和趕散[上帝]牧場上的羊群」（1節，新譯本）。上帝透過耶利米宣告，因他們無情地對待上帝無助的子民，上帝必「懲罰」他們（2節，同上）。上帝看見四散各處的羊群面臨的困境，對他們深感關切。上帝不只關心他們，還說要以慈愛將祂的羊從流亡之地重新聚集，把他們帶到安全和豐盛之處（3節）。

當我們感到迷失、受困或孤獨時，天父會看到我們的困境，祂不會讓我們孤立無援。祂會積極地採取行動來拯救並復興我們。

Beneath the rugged cliffs of Brora, Scotland, a sheep needed rescue. Trapped at the base of a cliff, surrounded by steep and unyielding rock on one side and the vast ocean on the other, the sheep had been on its own for two long years. Despite several rescue attempts, no one could reach her until a determined farmer named Cammy Wilson and four friends successfully executed a risky rescue mission. Three members of the team carefully descended nearly 820 feet down the cliff to get her, using a winch and a lot of courage to lift her out of her predicament.

The determined and sympathetic farmer and team reflect the compassion of our loving Father as depicted in Jeremiah 23:1-3. The prophet denounced Judah’s sinful leaders as shepherds who were “destroying and scattering the sheep of [God’s] pasture!” (v. 1). God declared through Jeremiah that—due to the ruthless way they treated His helpless people—He’d “bestow punishment” on them (v. 2). He saw the plight of His scattered flock and was deeply concerned about them. Not only was God concerned, but He also said He’d lovingly regather His sheep from places of exile and bring them to a place of safety and abundance (v. 3).

When we feel lost, trapped, or isolated, our heavenly Father sees our plight and won’t leave us stranded. He actively seeks to rescue and restore us.