I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.
The Good Shepherd was introduced when Ya’acob (Jacob) blessed his 12 sons (the 12 tribes) before his death. As he blessed both sons of Yoseph, Ephrayim and Menashsheh, crisscrossing his hands, right first then left, he placed the blessing of Yoseph (Joseph) upon them. In that blessing, he declared that the Alahym of his fathers, Aḇraham and Yitsḥaq, had shepherded him (and fed him) all his life – even to the day of his death!
When it was Yoseph’s turn, he repeated the revelation about the Shepherd. He declared that despite the evil done to him, Yoseph’s “arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the Mighty One of Ya‛aqoḇ – from there is the Shepherd, the Stone of Yasharal.”
Ya’acob went on to say that this Shepherd is the One who helped Yoseph during his struggles in Mitsrayim (Egypt), the One Who “blessed him with blessings of the heavens from above, blessings of the deep that lies beneath, blessings of the breasts and of the womb.” Yoseph was blessed in every dimension of his life, because he learned to feared 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 (YAHUAH) and live an obedient life. (See Berĕshith (Genesis) 48 and 49.)
This is the foundation of our well-known Psalm (Tehillim 23), in which Sovereign Daud declared: “𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 is my shepherd; I shall not lack. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for the sake of His Name.”
Kĕpha Aleph (1 Peter) 5:4 says: “…when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of esteem that will never fade away.”
Ultimately, the Good Shepherd, the Overseer of our souls, is guiding us and preserving us for the Kingdom. Ḥazon (Revelation) 7:17 says: “For the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their Shepherd. ‘He will lead them to springs of living water,’ and ‘Alahym will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’”
There are false shepherds whose mission is to lead the sheep of the Father astray. Don’t look to them. Stay with the Good Shepherd. Know His voice and follow only Him today and every day!
