Session 6
The Shepherd at Work
At the beginning of man’s journey with God, after “God created mankind in His own image,” (Genesis 1:27 NIV) God gave instructions to Adam and Eve to be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over fish in the sea, birds of the air and every living thing that moves on the earth. Read Genesis 1:28,29 and discuss. This is a picture of the Shepherd ensuring the safety and harmony of people who were made in His image.
Later in the story of God and His people, we hear about the various covenants that He instigates with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and then the miraculous in the stories of the deliverance of His people Israel from Egypt, the journey through the desert including the giving of the Law, the Ten Commandments and the miraculous provision of food and water, the crossing of the Red Sea, and the Glory of the Lord filling first the Tent of Meeting and then ultimately the Temple. All this showing the Shepherd of Israel is hard at work looking after His flock. Scripture emphasizes the presence of a Guide (Shepherd) rather than techniques for being guided (Shepherded).
Sheep seem to be rather stupid and easily led, but with the type of shepherd displayed by God, they feel safe when they hear the voice of their shepherd and they will follow where ever He leads them.
Today, there are so many voices speaking into our hearts and minds, that it can be difficult, to say the least, to distinguish who is saying what and then how we should respond to them. Everything we hear must be tested against the written word of God.
The Shepherd will not ask us to commit something that goes against His word, but He may well ask us to do things outside of our experience or our comfort zone, and His promise is that He will be with us, until the end of time.
The Shepherd is always at work, and He is looking for those who will hear what He has to say, and in Mary’s words, “do it”.
Questions:
- What would you like to see Jesus do, maybe in your family, or in your school, or in your workplace, or in your community?
- How could you distinguish the voice of The Shepherd from all the other voices that might seek to guide you?
The Shepherd Speaks 