"Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law and he led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God." (Exodus 3:1 NIV)
Moses did the business of his father-in-law and he led his flock toward the mountain of God. I see the literal interpretation of this text: Moses was doing his day job, looking for better land to graze his sheep. It’s tough to find vegetation in the arid elevation, but he kept after it, determined to take care of his sheep. It was amidst thees ordinary shepherding tasks where he discovered the mountain of God.
This morning, though, this scripture sings out to me as a minister. Stay about the Father’s business and lead His flock toward the mountain of God. Do you see it, too? If we take a wide view of Moses life, we’ll realize this moment is a microcosm of his future ministry. Moses will spend the next forty years doing God’s business leading people toward Him.
Moses was about to encounter the burning bush and hear the voice of God call out to him with further instructions. He would return to Egypt and rally God’s groaning and enslaved people. He would confront Pharoah and eventually trade out livestock handling for soul-shepherding. He would spend the next four decades leading sheep-people through the wilderness. And on this journey, Moses would constantly pull folks toward the mountain of God’s presence. I think of Exodus 20 where the Hebrews were close enough to Mount Sinai to see the cloud of God feel the landscape tremble beneath them.
As shepherds, men and women called to minister, we too, lead our flock across the wilderness and toward a deeper encounter with a holy God. The wilderness we traverse is this stretch between the slavery of sin and the Promised Land to come. It is in this harsh landscape where our flock is likely to bemoan, rebel, revert, revolt or lose their way altogether. (Shepherds are subject to such temptations, too) A good shepherd is patient. Over and over again, I have noted Moses’ forbearance with his wayward people. He plodded along through the wasteland faithfully, whether his flock was for him or against him. He loved them just the same.
Eventually Moses reached the last mountain in Deuteronomy, the one right before the physical Promised Land, and God shortcut-amened the shepherd right into His presence, the spiritual Promised Land. Moses didn’t ever have to wrangle with the residents of Canaan. He didn’t have to cattle-prod his people any longer. He got a good view of the land they were taking and then he got to go Home and receive his reward.
Dear pastor, we work with sheep at the behest of the Father. Of course we love the people we serve, we can’t help but love them because they are cute and cuddly and just little bit puckish. God loves them, so we love them, too. But most of all, shepherds tend to their sheep out adoration and allegiance to the Father. Keeping our divine devotion in focus will keep us on task until we take that last mountain.
"Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your credit, watching over them -- not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve, not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade." (1 Peter 5:2-4 NIV)
Lord, today this minister is reminded of her priority to be about Your business leading the flock toward Your presence. Keep me willing and patient, happy to serve You and certain of the big picture. Thank You for encouraging me in the challenging work of tending to people moving through the wilderness. Keep my eyes on the prize of the Promised Land. Amen.