Shepherding Lessons From Jacob and Jesus

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Memory Verse: "Israel worked to earn a wife; he tended flocks for a wife." (Hos.12:12, HCSB)

Scripture Reading: Gen.31:1-55.

Jacob is a bit too much like us-- with human strengths and weaknesses, but a man with a striving for spiritual things. From this imperfect man we learn important lessons ranging from faith in God to persistence in prayer and all the way down to enjoying God's grace. However, today's lesson is centered on "Shepherdhood."

Jacob, while reasoning with Laban, thus describes his own toil as a shepherd, "This twenty years have I been with thee; thy ewes and thy she goats have not cast their young, and the rams of thy flock have I not eaten. That which was torn of beasts I brought not unto thee; I bear the loss of it; of my hand didst thou require it, whether stolen by day, or stolen by night. Thus I was; in the day the drought consumed, and the frost by night; and my sleep departed from mine eyes." (Gen.31:38-40)

That was Jacob. He was a faithful shepherd working for a hard master but his patience gave him what he wanted. How about our perfect example, Jesus Christ? Even more toilsome than this was the life of our Saviour here below. He watched over all his sheep and gave account for them, "Of all those whom thou hast given me I have lost none." (Jn.17:12; 18:19).

Now let's focus on "us." Every believer with a spiritual responsibility is a spiritual Shepherd. Shepherding is not for Pastors alone. Anyone under you at any given point in time is your sheep. God has entrusted you with them, feed and care for them. Are you a mentor? Your mentees are your sheep. Are you a parent? Your children are your sheep. Are you the light in your family? It is your responsibility to make sure that the rest of them come under your light as the shepherd of your family, your numerical position not withstanding.

As modelled by Jacob and Jesus, it is our covenant responsibility to feed, water, groom, shear (discipline, encourage, rebuke), protect and ultimately lead our sheep. The truth is, "Shepherding is no cheap talk." Not everyone can be a Shepherd. It is a great privilege to be a shepherd: don't abuse it. God will never entrust a sheep into your hand if you are not capable. Can God trust you with at least one sheep?

Ponder Point: At the root of shepherding is love and sacrificing.

Action Point: Love people and mean it.

Prayer Point: LORD, I ask for your wisdom for effective shepherding. Grant me the grace to walk in the footsteps of the good shepherd in Jesus name, Amen.