God's Shepherd

Written by Pastor Kyle Jones

So Moses appealed to the LORD, “May the LORD, the God who gives breath to all, appoint a man over the community who will go out before them and come back in before them, and who will bring them out and bring them in, so that the LORD’s community won’t be like sheep without a shepherd.” (Numbers 27:15 - 17)

As Moses neared the end of his life, his concern was not for himself but for the future of God’s people. His request for a successor, someone to guide and care for Israel, shows his profound awareness of their need for leadership—specifically, a shepherd. Shepherds are responsible for the safety, nourishment, and guidance of their flocks. Likewise, a leader over God’s people needed to provide security, spiritual sustenance, and personal direction. Without these, Israel would wander aimlessly, vulnerable to external threats and internal division. This leader could not act out of personal ambition but instead needed a deep sense of responsibility for the well-being of God’s people.

God responded to Moses' prayer by appointing Joshua as the next leader. This transition underscores an essential truth: leadership among God’s people is not self-appointed but divinely established. God’s provision of Joshua reassured Israel that their journey would not end in chaos but continue under His sovereign care. The imagery of shepherding finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd. Unlike Moses or Joshua, whose leadership was limited by a human lifespan, Jesus leads His people eternally. In John 10:11, He declares, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” Where earthly leaders could only guide and protect temporarily, Jesus offers His life as the ultimate provision for His flock. Through His death and resurrection, Christ secures His people, leading them to eternal life. He is the Shepherd who not only guides us into the Promised Land but ensures our place in the new heavens and earth, where we will dwell securely under His care forever.

Numbers 27:15-17 points us to the ultimate Shepherd, Jesus, who alone provides the guidance and care we need. This passage calls us to trust in the Good Shepherd, who leads with perfect love and faithfulness. It should also cause us to reflect on the under-shepherds—those in leadership positions. Who are the shepherds God has placed in your life? How can you support and encourage them in their work? And most importantly, are you daily following the Good Shepherd, who leads you to green pastures and still waters? In Christ, the Shepherd who laid down His life for the sheep, we find unwavering guidance, eternal security, and boundless love. May we follow Him with trust and gratitude, confident that He leads us safely home.

Image by Jaka Skrlep at Unpslash.