Martin Luther and Ulrich Zwingli were the two greatest figures of Europe’s great Reformation. One day, Zwingli found himself at odds with Luther. Seeking a way to react to their differences, he found his answer on the side of a Swiss mountain. He spotted two goats walking toward each other on a narrow path. One was climbing the mountain, while the other was coming down. The path became too narrow for them to pass one another, side by side. They backed up and lowered their heads, as if to attack. But then the climbing goat lay down on the path. The descending goat stepped over his back. The climbing goat then arose and continued to the top of the mountain. Zwingli observed that the goat was able to make it to the top because of his willingness to bend lower.
Isaiah 53 compares us to sheep. But sometimes we need to be more like goats. The only way the goat could reach the top was through humility and service. What about you? What mountains are you trying to climb? Dr. Edwin Young, pastor of Second Baptist in Houston, says, “We must learn to walk on our knees.” To climb high, you must bow low. Learn to walk on your knees. Learn to serve. Learn to put others on your back. Learn from the goats.