When Sheep Become Shepherds
In Numbers 27:12-23 we witness 120-year-old Moses turning over the reins of leadership to Joshua, and if we pay attention we can learn some leadership lessons about sheep, shepherds, and most importantly we learn about When Sheep Become Shepherds. August 2, 2009.
The final paragraph of the final chapter of Moses’ appearance in the Holy Scriptures goes like this: “Moses climbed Mount Nebo … there the Lord showed him the whole land … and Moses the servant of the Lord died there in Moab, as the Lord had said. He buried him in Moab …Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face” (Deuteronomy 34:1,5,6,10). That’s quite an honor to be buried by God, and before that, to hold numerous mountain summits face to face with God. When it comes to leadership Moses ranks among the best, but it took some time and training. One book on spiritual leadership puts it this way, “At 40 years of age, Moses could have gotten the Israelites out of Egypt. Not until he was 120 years old could he deliver them to the banks of the Jordan” (McNeal, Reggie, “A Work of Heart: Understanding How God Shapes Spiritual Leaders,” Jossey-Bass, San Francisco, 2000, p. 20). In today’s episode from God’s Word we witness 120-year-old Moses turning over the reins of leadership to Joshua, and if we pay attention we can learn some leadership lessons about sheep, shepherds, and most importantly sheep who become shepherds. Like Moses and Joshua, and Jesus, and us.
If you have any kind of influence on any other person, that makes you a leader. You don’t need an appointment from the board or a title in front of your name. To be a leader all you need is at least one follower. To be a shepherd all you need is at least one sheep. If you are able to influence a child, a spouse, a roommate, a coworker, a neighbor, a friend, or for that matter even someone who reads your Facebook page, then you’re a leader. A shepherd.
Before any of us becomes a shepherd or leader, however, we need to learn what it is to follow. To be a sheep. The gifted general was at one time an attentive private. The successful lawyer was at one time a hard-working paralegal. Often times potential leaders create problems for themselves when they want to skip this step, and Christians create problems for ourselves when we think we can be leaders on our own terms without following God. Recall how the ambitious 40-year-old Moses tried to save the Israelites from slavery according to his own time and method when he killed the Egyptian taskmaster. Only after the humiliation of being chased into the wilderness by the Egyptian feds was Moses ready to follow – to learn from and listen to God. That took another 40 years. Even after he matured from sheep to shepherd and God called him – when he was 80 years old – to deliver the Israelites from slavery, Moses sometimes slipped into sin. After they escaped from Egypt the Israelites couldn’t find water, they complained, and Moses forwarded the problem to God, who mercifully instructed Moses to command a rock to gush with water. But during a passionate speech Moses got a little carried away and smacked the rock with his staff instead. Although water shot out, God would never forget this selfish, impulsive act of Moses that crowded in on God’s glory by making it seem like Moses’ own charisma was creating the water instead of God’s loving provision. Moses directly disobeyed God’s orders and dishonored God in front of the people he was leading. God graciously forgave him but as a powerful lesson to everyone involved he told Moses that he would not be able to enter the promised land.
Sometimes, once we become leaders, we have problems following God. With selfish, impulsive acts of disobedience we make God look bad. We dishonor him in front of the people whom we influence. Jesus takes our influence on others so seriously that he once said, “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around his neck” (Mark 9:42). There is a price to be paid for misrepresenting God to others by bad behavior. Sadly, sometimes a portion of that price is paid by those whom we influence, who follow our bad behavior and fall into sin. As if watching our children, friends, subordinates or students repeat our sinful mistakes isn’t bad enough, the blame that we bear makes us guilty before God so that we sink, and sink, and sink away from him. Like lost sheep unable to find our way home. We convince ourselves that we are the best of shepherds and end up becoming the worst of sheep.
In today’s gospel Jesus shows that he has a special place in his heart for lost sheep. “He had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd” (Mark 6:34). Whether you feel like you are falling treacherously further and further from God or you are wandering aimlessly wondering which spiritual direction is best, your Good Shepherd Jesus comes to you. He calls you by name and rescues you from your enemies and even yourself. He who eternally deserves the name Good Shepherd gave up that title for a while to become a sheep himself as Lamb of God. He followed God’s voice into the valley of the shadow of death, and laid down his life as the payment for sin. The guilt that belongs to us sinners pointed its finger of blame at Jesus and he did not back away. Neither did the Father back away from his promise to exalt his Son who sacrificed himself. “The God of peace … brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep” (Hebrews 13:20). Take a good look. The stone now putting pressure on you is not a millstone of punishment pulling you away from God but a tombstone of God’s power, pushing you forward to “equip you with everything good for doing his will, [to] work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ” (Hebrews 13:21).
You are a sheep who – by the death and resurrection of Jesus – has become a shepherd. Being a good sheep who follows Jesus makes you a better shepherd who leads other people to follow Jesus. Here are some examples … The shepherd who tutors other students or heads to college early as a resident assistant and in directing others leads them to the guidance of Jesus. The shepherd who, as a mother, loses sleep and a social life so she can pursue a career without neglecting her family, or who gives up a career altogether for the sake of her family. The shepherd who practices what he believes, speaking openly and honestly with his girlfriend about their physical intimacy, and saving sex for marriage which helps her feel wholesome and honorable, and also leads her to more seriously consider the influence God can have on a person’s decisions. The shepherd who gives a little extra effort to welcome a visitor in church and invite him or her to return. The shepherd who leads a Grace Group and helps others care for each other, support each other, pray for each other, and nurture Christian friendships. The shepherd who purposefully and prayerfully turns the chit chat with a neighbor toward a conversation about Jesus.
Shepherding is everywhere, and Moses knew a lot about shepherding. He learned it for 40 years, then practiced it for another 40 years leading the Israelites until this moment when God told him he’d soon die. He didn’t argue or bargain for more time. With the trust of a sheep and the wisdom of a shepherd, Moses said, “May the Lord, the God of the spirits of all mankind, appoint a man over this community.” Moses knew this was in God’s hands. God, who gives life and breath to all people, knew the best time and place and person to appoint just the right shepherd for the Israelites. Where are you in your leadership right now? You are there because God appoints just the right opportunities for you to shepherd. Moses continued in his prayer, asking for a successor who would “go out and come in before them, one who will lead them out and bring them in.” Whom are you able to influence right now – coming together with them, leading them forward, bringing them near to Jesus? You can do so because God appoints just the right opportunities for you to shepherd.
So God appointed Joshua as a shepherd to lead the Israelites, and in God’s instructions we can hear his promises to lead, guide, and equip Joshua, and us. God will put his spirit in Joshua and us. God will give authority to Joshua and us. God will offer direction to Joshua and us. So when you get tired, grow weary, and want to give up shepherding others, remember how much God shepherds you. It might be hard work for you, but God is working harder.
Thursday’s news announced the headline, “Top official says everybody can fight terrorism,” and went on to explain a shift in Homeland Security strategy. Now, Americans are being asked to engage in a “collective fight against terrorism,” emphasizing the shared role of individuals and the government. The Homeland Security Secretary said, “For too long, we’ve treated the public as a liability to be protected rather than an asset in our nation’s collective security” (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Thursday, July 30, 2009, 6A). Called workers, like pastors, are special spiritual shepherds. As a matter of fact, the title “pastor” actually means shepherd. But pastors aren’t the only ones who influence people. Sometimes churches, and pastors, treat church members as a liability to be managed rather than an asset to be employed. Any Christian who influences another person is a shepherd! Grace is now enjoying collective shepherding in special ways as members are learning to take ownership of a mission that belongs to us all (not just the pastors), as members are becoming more comfortable seizing a climate of permission and getting involved without needing the pastors’ approval to make decisions and contribute with meaningful volunteerism. More people are doing more to influence others. Not many of us here are pastors, but almost all of us are shepherds. Leaders led by the Great Shepherd who now lead others to the promised land. Amen.
Preached at Grace Lutheran Church, Milwaukee, WI (http://www.gracedowntown.org/) on August 2, 2009
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