Why A Shepherd?

Day one hundred and five

There is a lot going on at our house, we are being blessed with some amazing opportunities, each opportunity brings with it excitement and a little anxiety, which creates a good energy in our home.  My prayer this morning was filled with gratitude for recognizing the Lord's hand in my life and for the Spirit that is in my home lately. Gratitude for the team work that goes on in my family and the laughter that eases the tense moments.  George Bernard Shaw once said, "A happy family is but an earlier heaven."  That is how I am feeling today!

Exodus 3

The scriptures divide the life of Moses into 3 forty year periods:

• Forty years as a prince in Egypt.
• Forty years as a shepherd.
• Forty years as a prophet of God.

The first forty years as a prince in Egypt made Moses "learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and mighty in words and in deeds" (Acts 7:22-23).

So what about the second forty years as a shepherd, what did he learn from that experience?  Why a shepherd and not a merchant?

The Lord appears to have a special place in his heart for the shepherds of the Old Testament.  Abraham, Jacob, Moses, and even King David were shepherds.  Christ would even label himself a shepherd (John 10:11).  What is it about being a shepherd that prepares a person to be a leader for God's people?

Job Description:

The shepherd watches over his flock, rescues any wayward or injured lambs, guides them to food and water, protects them, and helps the sheep bed down at night in a safe area.

Watching over his flocks
Elder John R. Lasater tells of an experience where a sheep had been hit by a car.  He observed the following: "the old shepherd picked up the injured lamb, place it in a pouch in the front of his robe, stroke its head, and call it by name. The interpreter told him, “All of his sheep have a name, for he is their shepherd, and the good shepherds know each one of their sheep by name.” (“Shepherds of Israel,” Ensign, May 1988, 74–75). 

Attribute: A good leader has the ability both to lead a big group and to touch the lives of each individual.

"The true shepherd does not run to and fro, chasing the sheep. He walks among them and gains their trust. He teaches his sheepdogs and gives them assignments. Some will lead, and some will be behind. He then leads his sheep and goes before them. Along the way he uses voice and hand signals to direct his trusty dogs. From his vantage point, he watches over the sheep and leads them where they need to go." (Elder Robert D. Hales)

Attribute:  A good leader is in the midst of those that he is called to lead, he earns their trust, and he is the example they should follow.

Rescuing the wayward
I think of the parable of the Lost Sheep (Luke 15) when I think of rescuing the wayward. A shepherd leaving the ninety-nine to go and find the one lost sheep.

Attribute:  A good leader knows that all members of his team are important and treats them that way.

Guides them to food and water
"An entire flock of sheep can starve to death if the shepherd doesn’t provide them with food and water, either through leading them to the pasture or through bringing the feed out of the barn." (Sheep, Shepherds, and Sheepherders by James R. Moss)  This is important, Jesus commanded Peter to "Feed my sheep." (John 21:15-17)

Attribute: A good leader knows the importance of feeding those he is to care for, including things of a spiritual nature that help the individual survive and grow.

Protect them and helps the sheep bed down at night in safety
The shepherd would bring the flock home to the fold at night. He would then lay down in the gate physically to protect the sheep from wolves coming into the sheepfold. He literally put his life on the line for the sheep.

Attribute:   A good leader is willing to sacrifice all that is required of them for the life of those they lead, whether that means dying for them or the more difficult task of living for them in quiet dedication on a daily basis.

I have a better understanding of the attributes of a good shepherd and it makes sense that the Lord would chose shepherds to be spiritual leaders. There is a quote by Sally Johnson Odekirk that states:  "When we learn the qualities of a true leader, we become true spiritual shepherds." Considering the challenge that Moses faced of leading the Hebrews out of Egypt, the forty years of preparation as a shepherd seems appropriate. His mission would require him to have mastered each of these attributes.

The challenge for me is to master these attributes in my own life. I can see how they would make me a better mother, teacher, and disciple of Christ. Moses had eighty years of preparation for his calling, this is good news to me, I still have time!