"Let the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation, who may go out before them and go in before them, who may lead them out and bring them in, that the congregation of the Lord may not be like sheep which have no shepherd."
--Numbers 27:16-17 (NKJV)
From the daily Bible reading on March 23, 2013 of Psalm 60; Acts 24; Numbers 27-28.
God told Moses that his time was very close to an end. The Lord was ready to deliver His chosen people into the promised land, except that Moses would not be allowed to enter because he had disobeyed God (please see Numbers 20:8-12 and 27:14). But Moses, always thinking of God's people first, pleaded with the Lord to assign someone to take his place as the head of the children of Israel so they would not be without leadership going into this new land, so they would not be like sheep without a shepherd. God, in His mercy, told Moses to take Joshua and appoint him as his successor, to inaugurate Joshua in front of all the people so that they would see and obey him. This Moses did to Joshua before the whole house of Jacob, and God granted authority to Joshua.
A scene very similar to this occurred one other very significant time as recorded in our Bible. As Jesus matured into a young man, He left home and began His long walk that would end at Calvary. When He was baptized by John in the Jordan River, a voice came from heaven saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." (Please see Matthew 3:17.) As He traveled about the region, gathering disciples and followers to Him, He preached and taught and healed and cast out demons. He performed miracles and all manner of signs showing that God was clearly working through Him. We later realize, though, that it isn't so much God working through Jesus but that God had granted His authority to Jesus in much the same way as when He granted Moses' authority to Joshua. Jesus confirmed this Himself, after His resurrection but before His ascension, when He appeared to the disciples in Galilee. Matthew recorded Jesus' words in 28:18 when He said, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth." And God gave Jesus His authority for much the same reason as He did for Joshua. In Matthew 9:36 we read that Jesus was moved with compassion when He saw all the multitudes seeking His help, "because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd." Jesus is the Good Shepherd. When He ascended into heaven, He charged His disciples to tend His sheep. Many today still follow this commission, tending flocks of all sizes. Pray for Jesus' shepherds. Pray for His sheep. Amen.
Lord, we are amazed when we see how clearly Your words in our Old Testament foreshadow our Savior Jesus Christ. Granting Joshua the authority You originally gave Moses mirrors in a lesser degree giving Your Son all authority in heaven and on earth. May the name of Jesus be praised by every tongue, and may His reign endure forever. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
A scene very similar to this occurred one other very significant time as recorded in our Bible. As Jesus matured into a young man, He left home and began His long walk that would end at Calvary. When He was baptized by John in the Jordan River, a voice came from heaven saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." (Please see Matthew 3:17.) As He traveled about the region, gathering disciples and followers to Him, He preached and taught and healed and cast out demons. He performed miracles and all manner of signs showing that God was clearly working through Him. We later realize, though, that it isn't so much God working through Jesus but that God had granted His authority to Jesus in much the same way as when He granted Moses' authority to Joshua. Jesus confirmed this Himself, after His resurrection but before His ascension, when He appeared to the disciples in Galilee. Matthew recorded Jesus' words in 28:18 when He said, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth." And God gave Jesus His authority for much the same reason as He did for Joshua. In Matthew 9:36 we read that Jesus was moved with compassion when He saw all the multitudes seeking His help, "because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd." Jesus is the Good Shepherd. When He ascended into heaven, He charged His disciples to tend His sheep. Many today still follow this commission, tending flocks of all sizes. Pray for Jesus' shepherds. Pray for His sheep. Amen.
Lord, we are amazed when we see how clearly Your words in our Old Testament foreshadow our Savior Jesus Christ. Granting Joshua the authority You originally gave Moses mirrors in a lesser degree giving Your Son all authority in heaven and on earth. May the name of Jesus be praised by every tongue, and may His reign endure forever. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
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