Tehillah Generation Chapel
Daily Manna | Thursday, August 2, 2018 | Topic: Conscience 87
Scripture: And when they saw Joseph afar off, even before he came near to them, they conspired against him to slay him. Genesis 37:18
Note: Both Joseph and Jesus were shepherds. By age seventeen years, Joseph was a shepherd pasturing his father’s flock together with his senior brothers (Gen 37:2). Jesus was literally a carpenter by profession, having taken after Joseph, his foster father’s trade. Inspite of His trade, Jesus, by virtue of being a Rabbi, with massive followers of different categories of disciples, was known as the Good Shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep (John 10:11).
In reference to Himself as a Rabbi, Jesus often used His personal life as an example of a shepherd in relation to His followers being the sheep of the flock. The majority of the population in Israel at the time were owners of flocks. So using the shepherd to flock relationship was something that provided for a cogent way of imparting great truths to the people using their familiar language, culture and trade of the people. In Matthew 26:31, Jesus cautioned the disciples about the great trial that would shortly befall them because of His impending arrest and torture. “You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.”
David was a great example of who a shepherd is, in relation to enemy attacks on the flock he was shepherding. When the bear and the lion attacked his flock, he would put his life on the line and defend the sheep with all the boldness and skills he could muster. David took these high risks because he couldn’t afford any casualty to the flock, knowing that they were few. This was exactly what Jesus was referring to as the good shepherd laying down his life for the sheep. It was obvious that Joseph’s brothers were not making true account to Jacob in relation to taking good care of the flock. They weren’t responsible and accountable stewards to Jacob. It took Joseph, being a good shepherd to report the true state of affairs to Jacob, and in the process, exposed the lies and untruthfulness of his brothers.
Jesus was the Good Shepherd. That’s why any preacher worth his salt should desire to walk in the examples of who the good shepherd is, to his flock and to the rest of the world. Joseph wouldn’t tolerate lies and untruthfulness. He rather exposed them. Because of this, his brothers didn’t like him. They wanted him dead for his principles of accountability and transparency. How many pastors today would have survived the accountability test of Joseph? Jesus exposed the Jewish leaders of His day for their hypocrisy and double standards. For that reason, they conspired to kill Jesus. Yet, Jesus was ready to lay down His life for the truth, and He walked the talk by going to Calvary to die for the sake of lost humanity.
Food for thought: Can you imagine what salvation would have been like, and how the redemption story would have unfolded, had Jesus not be willing to lay down His life for man?
Declaration: For this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. Matt 26:28
©Author: Rev Fred Aboe
