I came across this verse early this morning. And while it speaks historically of Jacob, who had become a kinder man in his later years, it also speaks metaphorically of our dear Lord. The Lord Who is my shepherd!

“And I will lead on softly, according as the cattle that goeth before me and the children be able to endure.” Genesis 44:14

Here Jacob plans to continue his homeward journey, from Haran back down to the Holy Land … but only at a pace “the cattle and children” are able to bear. He will not push them, not to their harm!

Yes, that is (intentionally or not) a little “parable” on the Ways of our dear Shepherd, Jesus Christ our Saviour!

He leads us gently!

Or … as said here by the King James translators. “He leads us softly.” The adverb “softly” used here can also mean “secretly.” It’s used that way once in the Bible, in Job 11:15.

Isaiah 40:11 captures this idea about our Lord: “He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and SHALL GENTLY LEAD those that are with young.”

Luke 15 might be parallel too, a Parable for sure. “What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it. And when he hath found it, HE LAYETH IT ON HIS SHOULDERS, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.” Verses 4-6, obviously a shepherd Text! (Laying the little frightened lost lamb on His Shoulders … Tenderness, Softness!)

I find it comforting that my Lord does not DRIVE me like one does a herd of cattle! Behind me with a whip!

Instead He LEADS me like a good (or great or chief) Shepherd directs His sheep! Going ahead of us clearing the danger! Softly and ten-derly so!

Even when it comes to trial and temptation … “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, WHO WILL NOT SUFFER YOU TO BE TEMPTED ABOVE THAT YE ARE ABLE …” 1 Corinthians 10:13, gentleness, protection, love!

Wow!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

And on that “secretly” idea I mentioned earlier … “Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but HE REVEALETH HIS SECRET unto his servants the prophets.” Amos 3:7, I think God loves to reveal His “secrets” to His intimates!

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