As we begin February we are waiting with great anticipation for the kidding season to begin. This time of year actually began five months ago. The gestation length of goats is about five months, so in order to have kids born in January and February our buck needed to be in with the girls no later than late August.
Last August we introduced the dozen Boer goat does to our new two year-old full blood buck, who we hope to elevate to the status of “herd sire”. He comes from a place and breeding that gave us reason to think he was full of potential. So we put him in the pasture with the mature does expecting him to do what bucks are suppose to do. Well, I have a suspicion that he was “all show and no go”.
Goat does are sensitive to light as the days get shorter in late summer. This shortening of daylight encourages the does to be “in season”. In addition to the change of daylight, certain things will encourage them to get interested in becoming moms and putting a male goat in with them is the sure fire way to bring them into season. The trick is that the “window of opportunity” is very short and if there is no success in making kids then she will come around again 17-21 days later.
In the first part of September, we noticed that some of the girls starting showing that “loving feeling” again which isn’t good when you want kids in January. So we scrambled and found an available buck owned by a friend.
January kids are desired as in this part of the country as many 4-H and FFA youth are looking for club kids in April. Club kids can’t be born in the previous year so kids born the closest to January 1st are the most desired and that gives the young person more days to get that show kid to market weight for the big show. There is more that goes into raising a show winner but having the most days between birth and the show is a good thing.
So now we wait. The does look very pregnant and they are showing signs that it can be any day (or night) but we are left to wait until the time comes.
The unrest in Egypt has prompted some to talk about end times. The other day I was at a prayer meeting and an evangelical pastor asked me what I thought about the whole unrest in Egypt with the prophetic words from Isaiah 19.
It is an interesting read and it clearly is “A prophecy against Egypt” (verse 1) and it foresees a time when Egypt and Assyria (present day Iraq, Jordon and Syria) along Israel would all worship God (v23-25). This is a wonderful image referring to a time when God will dramatically reveal His judgment by condemning the wicked and delivering the righteous.
The pastor asked what I thought of Isaiah 19, the current unrest in Egypt and the end times. Perhaps my response wasn’t exactly what he was hoping for. I responded that I certainly believe the Jesus will return again as he promised but I don’t get too caught up in the headlines.
We need to be cautious and resist the temptation to interpret Scripture through news headlines. We should be interpreting the headlines in light of Scripture.
His disciples asked Jesus when the close of the age would occur. Jesus’ answer was very clear. He said, “No one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father” (Matt. 24:36 ESV). God repeatedly tells us through His word not to get all caught up on setting the date for Christ Jesus’ return. You can find this in Mark 13:32-33; 1 Thess. 5:1-3 and 2 Pet. 3:10. In Matt. 24:33, 42-44; Luke 21:28 and 1 Thess.5:6, we are clearly instructed that Christians have no need to contemplate WHEN Jesus will return. Rather, we are to be READY at all times for His return. Perhaps this is best told to us in Jesus’ parable of the ten virgins found in the 25th chapter of the Gospel of Matthew.
Like those pregnant goat does in the barn, the signs are clearly there but only God knows when the kidding season with start here. More importantly, only God knows the exact time of the end of the age. We are instructed to have a sense of urgency to do our Lord’s good work to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ until the time of his return.
The bottom-line is that regardless of the headlines, believers in Christ Jesus can take every comfort in God’s promise to protect and preserve them even in the midst of suffering. So, when the Good Lord Jesus returns believers have every confidence that there is nothing to worry about as they are clothed in Jesus’ righteousness and will hear him say, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”
