#23 3:1 Preparation of the Human Deliverer Part C

His natural preparation for service culminated through Moses serving as a shepherd 3:1.

1 Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian.

Another metaphor God uses throughout Scripture when revealing His relationship with His people is that of the Shepherd and His flock. Consider these examples.

Psalm 78:70-72

70 He chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds:

71 From following the ewes great with young he brought him to feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance.

72 So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands.

David was called from shepherding his father’s sheep to “shepherd” the nation of Israel.

Amos 7:14-15

14 Then answered Amos, and said to Amaziah, I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet's son; but I was an herdman, and a gatherer of sycomore fruit:

15 And the LORD took me as I followed the flock, and the LORD said unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel.

Amos was also called from tending the flocks to prophesy.

Luke 2:8-10

8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

9 And, lo, the angel of the LORD came upon them, and the glory of the LORD shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

The birth of Jesus of Nazareth, the God-ordained Redeemer from the foundation of the earth, was announced, not to kings, but to shepherds watching their flocks.

1 Peter 5:1-3

1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:

2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;

3 Neither as being LORDs over God's heritage, but being examples to the flock.

The elders are commanded to take the oversight of the churches as a shepherd would do with the flock.

Moses had much to learn from being the husband of a wife. Similarly, he had much to learn from being the shepherd of the flocks of his father-in-law.

In John 10:11, Jesus said this about being God’s great Shepherd:

11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

Perhaps, in keeping the flocks of Reuel, Moses learned about his commission as a keeper of God’s greater flock, Israel. To be effective, Moses (together with all that are called to such spiritual leadership positions in the churches today) needed to see that the call demanded that he lay his life down for the calling. His entire reason for existing in this world was to fulfill God’s calling. So it is with us.