A Heart For The Sheep

“And Moses spake unto the LORD, saying, Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation, Which may go out before them, and which may go in before them, and which may lead them out, and which may bring them in; that the congregation of the LORD be not as sheep which have no shepherd.” (Nu 27:15-17 AV)

Of all the things Moses could have prayed, he prayed the LORD would provide leadership for his people prior to his exit from Earth.  The LORD had just told Moses to go to a particular place and look upon the promised land because God was about to bring him home.  He was told to look upon the land that he would never transverse because of his sin of striking the rock.  Moses could have asked for leniency.  He could have asked for mercy.  Moses could have asked that he be allowed to merely cross Jordan and step on the shores of Canaan prior to his death.  HE asked for none of these things.  He didn’t need to ask forgiveness, for he already had it.  The only reason God brought it up again was in the context of the privilege to at least gaze upon Canaan.  Not to make Moses feel guilt over a sin that had been previously atoned for.  The only request Moses had was that the sheep be no scattered for lack of leadership.

Moses is perhaps one of the three greatest examples of a pastoral heart.  Christ being the first and always the best example.  David perhaps the second best.  But what it comes to loving an unlovely and ungrateful people, Moses has to rank right up there with the best of the best.  No doubt, Moses lost his temper with the people more than the Bible records.  The bible records only twice did Moses allow his anger with the people get the better of him.  The Bible chooses to record Moses love and patience for his people far and above his lack of patience and frustration.  Moses, in my humble opinion, should be a study for each and every pastoral candidate.  The man of God should make a special mentor of the man, Moses.

I have had the greatest privilege of serving with men of God whom I consider modern day Moses’.  The have been an example to me on how to love others even when other seem to be a thorn in the flesh.  These me, I can honestly say, never complained about any of the sheep God gave them.  They did have a realistic opinion about the sheep, but the loved them in spite of some of the trouble which they endured.  These men are gradually graduating to their final home.  This generation is passing before our eyes.  A generation that understood what pastoral ministry was all about.  They were not ‘kingdom builders’ which are modern seminaries are turning out.  They are first and foremost, shepherds.  They are not ‘headliners’ on a church marquee.  Their office is open to any and all who may wish their time.  They will never be in the annuals of a ‘Who’s Who’ because as far as they are concerned, they are a nobody trying to be a blessing to other nobodies.  They love their people.  And when they are gone, those whom they loved will realize just how much they were loved.  These men truly loved the sheep and their greatest concern was their welfare.