Numbers 27-29
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 27:15-17
Moses is nearing the end of his life and ministry. (But he is not done yet; we still have the rest of Numbers and then Deuteronomy…) He has been a shepherd for Israel for 40 years, leading the people through the Exodus out of Egypt, teaching them God’s ways, deciding difficult cases, always urging them to follow the LORD. Recognizing that his exit is approaching, Moses asks the LORD to provide a new shepherd to take his place. The LORD designates Joshua, and has Moses commission him before the people, so that there is no mistaking Joshua’s authority.
Jesus later comes with a similar thought:
When [Jesus] saw the crowds, He had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
Matthew 9:36 (See also Mark 6:34.)
But Jesus does not ask for another temporary shepherd. He Himself is our eternal Shepherd:
I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.
John 10:11
Do we then simply take this claim of Jesus on its face, with nothing to back it up? No. The Resurrection is the proof of Jesus’ authority. Just as the LORD commissions Joshua as Moses’ successor to shepherd Israel, He commissions Jesus (Whose name is a variation of “Joshua”) to be our Shepherd by raising Him from the dead.
We are all sheep in need of a shepherd. But the question remains: Will we stray around on our own, or will we follow our Great and Good Shepherd? I pray that the words of Saint Peter would be fully realized in our lives:
He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By His wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
I Peter 2:24-25