You never know when you’re going to see Jesus in the Scriptures. Well, that’s not true. If you’re reading the gospels, you kind of know. And, if you’re reading the epistles, you’re pretty sure He’s gonna show up there as well — like, a lot. So, maybe what I mean to say is . . . You never know when you’re going to see Jesus in the Old Testament Scriptures. “Found Him” this morning just east of the promised land, on the other side of the Jordan.

The LORD said to Moses, “Go up into this mountain of Abarim and see the land that I have given to the people of Israel. When you have seen it, you also shall be gathered to your people, as your brother Aaron was, because you rebelled against my word in the wilderness of Zin when the congregation quarreled, failing to uphold me as holy at the waters before their eyes.” (These are the waters of Meribah of Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.) Moses spoke to the LORD, saying, “Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation who shall go out before them and come in before them, who shall lead them out and bring them in, that the congregation of the LORD may not be as sheep that have no shepherd.”

(Numbers 27:12-17 ESV)

Appoint a man over the congregation . . . that the congregation of the LORD may not be as sheep that have no shepherd. That’s what I’m chewing on this morning.

Moses is going to see the promised land though he’s not going to enter it. But this one who was God’s deliverer from the bondage of Egypt has, for the past forty years, also been the people’s intercessor through the wilderness. (It would be interesting to go back and count how many times Moses went face down on behalf the grumbling, groaning, complaining people of God. Wouldn’t be surprised if he had a bit of a pug nose from it all. But I digress). And Moses intercedes to the end. Appoint a man over the congregation, that the congregation of the LORD may not be as sheep that have no shepherd.

He knew his congregation. He knew their weakness. He knew they were prone to wander. He knew they needed someone to lead them, that going it alone wouldn’t go well. That they were like sheep. That they needed a shepherd.

Me too. Us too. Appoint a man over the congregation, that the congregation of the LORD may not be as sheep that have no shepherd.

Behold the man, Jesus!

The One whose heart was attuned as was Moses’ so that “when He saw the crowds, He had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd” (Mt. 9:36). The One who knew that, ultimately, He had been appointed to be the man Moses pleaded for, proclaiming, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know My own and My own know Me” (Jn. 10:11, 14). The One who accepted the appointment as an eternal assignment, “for the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and He will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes” (Rev. 7:17).

Jesus, is the man.

Hallelujah, what a Savior!

O’ to wonder afresh at the great Shepherd of the sheep who through His blood brought us into everlasting covenant (Heb. 13:20). To rest deeply as we, with confidence, abide with the Shepherd and Overseer of our souls (1Pet. 2:25). To labor and wait expectantly knowing that soon and very soon the chief Shepherd will appear (1Pet. 5:4).

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
       He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
       He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
       for His name’s sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
       I will fear no evil,
       for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff,
       they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
       in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
       my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
       all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

(Psalm 23, ESV)

O’ praise God for the Man appointed over the congregation!

Praise Him for His grace!

Praise Him for His glory!