A Short Word on Fashionable Christian Anti-Zionism & Emergent Neo-Christofascism Part Three

A Short Word on

Fashionable Christian Anti-Zionism & Emergent Neo-Christofascism

based on conversations I have had with ‘professing christians’

Part Three

And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days (Genesis49:1).

I was once told that in order to engage more people in an intelligent discourse about Israel, I would have to define Zionism & competently explain what’s meant by the term. After a little thought, I smiled cheekily & responded, saying that defining Zionism was as straightforward as defining idiocy; the clue is in the name. This answer often proves insufficient for those unfamiliar with my unique brand of facetiousness. Forgive me.

Israel’s place in history, biblical or otherwise, cannot be denied. Yet among those with whom I speak at length about this issue, there is a very definite dissention concerning Israel’s validity & viability. This is fashionable Christian anti Zionism. This is emergent neo-christofascism. Of course, as I’ve stated in previous articles, my pro-Israeli stance has less to do with the politics of the region & more to do with what Scripture declares the role of the Jews to be, most particularly in these last days.

Still, the question remains; what do I mean? Rather than thumb through the etymology of the word & attempt to split hairs about it, I’ve formed my own particular working definition. Whenever I use the term Zionism, I mean this;

 The acknowledgement of whatever Divine Plan God has revealed in His Word concerning the Jews, whether by promise or by prophecy, a commitment to support the fulfilment of the same said Divine Plan as God wills & an unequivocal recognition of the present, continuous & active role of the covenant that God cut with His chosen people, Israel, which was enacted for their salvation & consequently ours.

It’s nigh impossible to discuss these things with those whose arguments are socio-political at the best of times. But when [professing] Christians take this line of approach first & then make God’s Word secondary, it’s tragic to me. Whenever I attempt to engage them in a Bible-based exchange, it’s soon side-lined, sabotaged & derailed by unprofitable & imaginary social constructs. That which is misplaced inevitably becomes misapplied.

These folk not only refuse to address the matter biblically, they simply do not believe what God has said in His Word.

When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth (Acts1:6-8).

Those in opposition to Israel & the Jews have harder questions to answers than those who are committed Zionists according to my definition. The evidences stacked against the claims of secularists & christo-fascists alike, have to be addressed & although a biblical argument may be rejected by both camps on the grounds of a blind subjectivism, the independent witnesses of history, anthropology & archaeology speak quite clearly. Even if we approach this topic logically instead of theologically, the place of the Jews in the narrative of the Middle East is without doubt.

Christ does not deny the restoration of the kingdom to Israel. He simply commands the preaching of the Gospel first & foremost. However, it stands to reason that the disciples may very well have asked Jesus this question based on teaching He had given them, their understanding of their own Scriptures, or their beliefs concerning the role of The Messiah as Son of David. This restoration was a future event that would happen in God’s timing. So with a little head scratching, we’d have to say that this event must have taken place in history, right? If God has indeed finished with the Jews He would have fulfilled this aspect of His relationship with them before casting them aside, right? But, if this is a future event that hasn’t yet occurred, God must still have Israel on His calendar and in His timeline, right?

A few of my friends have pointed to the establishment of Israel as a recognised state in 1948. This, they say, is a probable fulfilment of the words of Christ. More head scratching raises more questions if this is the case though.

Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children (Isaiah66:8).

Is this a sign that God has honoured His promise concerning Israel & has now washed his hands of her, embracing The Church instead? Or is it rather a sign of the endtimes in which we live? No doubt, 1948 is significant date in history & in prophecy, but not for the logical reasons that some assume. It’s been suggested that the powers that be simply felt sorry for the Jews after WW2 & gave them the land that they now dwell in; the land originally given to them by The Lord.

As such, Israel has no legal, ethical, moral or biblical obligation to share anything with the [so-called] Palestinians; they have their own land. History demonstrates very clearly that nothing was done with the land that Israel now possesses before the Jews returned there. For some strange reason, the occupiers of the region, with all of their massive resources in wealth, found it impossible to cultivate the land. Yet now, Israel has innovations in agriculture that produce bumper crops annually & exports of its goods globally. The argument concerning Palestine is an interesting one, especially considering the fact that the title is a simple Latinisation of the name Philistine. Israel’s historic enemy remains her enemy still, at least in name.

In 1948 there was the Arab-Israeli-war between Israel & her neighbours. What a house-warming event that was. She prevailed. In 1967 there was the six-day-war between Israel & her neighbours. She prevailed. In 1973 there was the Yom-Kippur-War between Israel & her neighbours. She prevailed. With every wave of aggression, every shattered land-for-peace-deal & each broken cease-fire, Israel has continued to prosper against the odds. Has The Lord washed His hands of a people He literally loved to death?

For thus saith the LORD of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye (Zachariah2:8).

Thus saith the Lord, which giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, which divideth the sea when the waves thereof roar; The Lord of hosts is his name: If those ordinances depart from before me, saith the Lord, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before me for ever. Thus saith the Lord; If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, saith the Lord (Jeremiah31:35-37).

Jeremiah chapter 31 is well worth a read in its entirety, because it adds complete credence to & biblical support of the plain teaching of God’s Word concerning His dealings with & use of Israel.

Scripture provides us with a broad cross section of Israel’s history as a nation before God. There are multiplied prophecies yet to be fulfilled where they’re concerned & yet these important portions of The Word of God are systematically ignored or butchered with eisegesis in order to insinuate The Church’s role as the Israel of God. If The Church wants to replace Israel & usurp her blessings, I trust The Church is prepared to endure her curses for its sins, backsliding & failures. No? I didn’t think so. Israel still has a place before God in history.

Genetic studies being conducted currently, aim to prove that the Philistines were of Aegean origin after a Philistine burial site was discovered on Israel’s southern coast at Ashkelon. Megan Sauter, a biblical archaeologist excavating at the site covered by National Geographic, Bible History Daily, Encyclopaedia Britannica & Haaretz, writes:

‘The Bible records that the Philistines, Israel’s archenemy, came from Caphtor (see, e.g., Amos 9:7). Many correlate Caphtor with the island of Crete. An Aegean heritage for the Philistines lines up well with the archaeological finds from Philistia. Modern excavations at the Philistine sites of Ashdod, Ekron, Ashkelon, and Gath (Tell es-Safi)—four city-states of the Philistine Pentapolis—have demonstrated that the Philistines brought their own distinctive types of pottery, building styles, weapons, jewelry and weaving with them when they settled on the southern coast of Israel around the 12th century B.C.E. Ashkelon’s cemetery supports the Philistines’ distinctness from their neighbours and may be able to connect the Philistines to related populations in the Aegean world. Bone samples of the cemetery’s population are undergoing DNA testing, radiocarbon dating and biological distance studies (the degree of genetic relatedness). The results of these investigations may give us a better picture of the Philistines’ heritage, when Ashkelon’s cemetery was in use, and how the population of the cemetery was related to one another.’

Speaking anthropologically, the former Jordanians who are now magically transformed into Palestinians are no relation whatsoever to the Philistines after whom they’re named. The obvious retort is that those who are called Jews today are also a misrepresentation of their ancient namesake. Because of the generational diaspora of Jewish people, inter-marriage & historic proselyting, it’s claimed that Jews today bear no resemblance to the Jews of biblical Israel, therefore, their claim to the land is seen to be as equally invalid as Palestinian claims. Unfortunately, there have been ongoing genetic studies along these lines since the 1970s & advances in technologies into the 21^st century have revealed that [broadly speaking] Jews have retained around 70% of their characteristic Middle Eastern DNA. It follows then, that the Jews are far more Israeli than their Jordanian counterparts are Palestinian.

(Just out of curiosity, why is the site of the former Jewish Temple now occupied by the Mosque of Omar, called Temple Mount? Surely it should be called Mosque Mount …unless the Jews have rightful claim to it because they were there first.)

Archaeology bears witness to the fact that throughout history [& several layers of strata], Jewish artefacts predate those of Muslims in the region. The Jewish Virtual Library lists a sample of significant discoveries between 2004 & 2016 on its website:

2016

Foot of Ancient Egyptian Statue Discovered in Tel-Hazor (July)

3,300-Year old Egyptian Scarab Amulet Discovered in Galilee (June)

1,600-Year old Roman Haul From Caesarea Harbor (May)

3,700-Year old Egyptian Scarab Seal Discovered (April)

12-Year old Israeli Girl Discovers Ancient Egyptian Amulet (April)

1,600-Year old Kilns (April)

Ancient Incense Holder and Ash Jug Found in Magdala (April)

2,000-year old gold coin found in Northern Galilee (March)

First Temple era twin seals discovered in the City of David (March)

4,200-year old necropolis unearthed near Bethlehem (March)

1,600-year old winery and Roman bathhouse found in Jerusalem (March)

3,000-year old fabric and textiles found in Timna copper mines (February)

3,500-year old scarab amulet found in Galilee (February)

3,400-year old fortress found in Nahariya (January)

2015

Marble slab with Hebrew inscriptions discovered at Lake Kinneret (December)

Impression of Royal Seal of King Hezekiah discovered (December)

1,700-year old mosaic found (November)

2000-year old Maccabean-era fortress unearthed in Jerusalem (November)

1st Century Mikveh With Inscriptions Found (August)

Items Including Silver Jewelery and Coins Minted During the Time of Alexander the Great Found in a Cave in Northern Galilee  (March)

The Largest Discovery of Gold Coins in the History of Israeli Archaeological Expeditions is Discovered at the Caesarea National Park (February)

The Oldest Modern Human Remains Ever Found Outside of Africa are Discovered in the Manot Cave (February)

Ancient Tablets Detailing the Lives of Babylonian Jews Put on Display in the Bible Lands Museum (February)

2014

2,800 Year Old Farmhouse Discovered in Central Israel (December)

3,300 Year Old Cult Complex Found at Tel Burna Site B (October)

2013

Iron Age Stone Altar Discovered in Shiloh (November)

6th Century Engraved Gold Artifacts Unearthed in Jerusalem (September)

Ancient Samson Mosaic Uncovered in Huqoq Synagogue (September)

2,700 Year Old Inscribed Pottery Shard Found in Jerusalem (August)

Ancient Egyptian Sphinx Discovered in Northern Israel (July)

2,00 Year Old Cooking Pots Uncovered in Jerusalem (June)

1,500 Year Old Mosaic Exposed in Southern Israel (May)

2,000 Year Old Stone Quarry Discovered in Jerusalem (May)

Second-Temple Period Ritual Bath Uncovered in Jerusalem (April)

Ancient Industrial Installation Revealed in Jaffa (February)

2012

First Temple-Period Water Resevoir Discovered under Western Wall (September)

9,500 year-old Figurines Discovered Outside Jerusalem (August)

4th Century Synagogue Discovered in Huqoq in the Galilee (July)

2,700 year-old Clay Fragment Found in Jerusalem (May)

3,000 year-old Shrines, Objects discovered in Ancient City of Khirbet Qeiyafa (May)

Ancient Hebrew Seal Found in Jerusalem (May)

Greek Warrior Helmet with Leaf Imprint Found in Haifa Bay (February)

Stamp with Temple Menorah Discovered in Acre (January)

2011

Temple Period Ritual Purity "Voucher" Discovered in Jerusalem (December)

Second Temple Ritual Bath Discovered Near Kibbutz Zor'a (October)

Rare Statue of Hercules Exposed in the Jezreel Valley (August)

Artifacts Found in Ancient Drainage Channel in Jerusalem (August)

Rare Second Temple-Period Gold Bell Discovered in Jerusalem (July)

1,500 Year Old Public Building Uncovered in Akko (June)

2009

Magdala Stone

Excavation Discovers Remains of Building from Time of Jesus (December)

Archaeological Analysis Proves Hasmonean Rule Extended to Negev Highlands (December)

2,000 Year Old Mikveh [Ritual Bath] Uncovered in Western Wall Tunnels

2008

Byzantine Gold Coins Found in Jerusalem (December)

Roman Temple Uncovered in Zippori (August)

First Temple Period buidling exposed west of Temple Mount (March)

2007

Ancient Byzantine Church discovered in Tiberias (August)

Herod the Great’s Tomb Discovered (May)

2006

Ramla Excavations: Gold & Silver Bracelets (April)

Ancient Jewish Site from United Kingdom Period Discovered at Kana (March)

Ancient Mosaic Recovered from Palestinian Thieves (February)

2005

Ancient Inscription of Alphabet Discovered Near Jerusalem (November)

Archaeologists May Have Found Evidence of Goliath (November)

Archaeologists Uncover the “Oldest Church” in Israel (November)

Artifacts from Temple Mount Saved from Garbage (October)

Fish Bones Unearthed in Jerusalem's City of David (September)

Jaffa: Horse Skeletons (September)

Palmahim: A 6000 Year Old Cemetery is Exposed in Excavations (April)

Rare Crusader Coin Found in Jafa Flea Market (March)

2004

Remains Found of Settlement in Kana (December)

Coin of Jesus Found in Ancient Tiberias Excavation (November)

Haifa University Archeologist Uncovers World’s Oldest Bedding (June)

Objections to evidence are not evidence in & of themselves & even though my [professing] Christian friends may not want to engage with me in any particular biblical discussion of the subject, their anti-Semitism defies God’s Word. As I’ve stated before, I am not an expositor of Scripture, an expert in any field whatsoever, or a theologian. I’m just just a bloke who loves Israel & their Messiah most especially. However, despite the witness of Scripture, History, Anthropology & Archaeology, there is still dissent within The Church from some.

If we confuse our feelings concerning social justice & political awareness, with a misguided conviction that The Gentile Church is now the Israel of God, we will soon find ourselves in very deep waters indeed. Not only will we have wandered away from God’s Word, we will also have taken sides against His elect. The Israel that I support & pray for are not simply the physical inhabitants of that sliver of land in the Middle East; not all Israel is Israel. The Israel that I support & pray for are the Jews that I understand biblically & theologically.

Fashionable Christian anti-Zionism & Emergent Neo-Christofascism are nothing more or less than a very sad indictment to The Church’s confirmed Hellenisation. A replacement theology that either cannot or will not acknowledge its Hebraic root & that Hebraic root’s place in the will & plan of God, is a dangerous ignorance & a rabid arrogance.

For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits, that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: for this is my covenant unto them,

when I shall take away their sins. As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes. For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all. O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen (Romans11:25-36).

Will ALL Of The REAL Pastors PLEASE Stand Up! - PART THREE

Will All of The REAL Pastors

PLEASE Stand Up! PART THREE

20.Thou leddest thy people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron (Psalms77:20).

With the passing of the ministry of Joseph & the subsequent enslavement of Israel, God chose Himself another Shepherd to be appointed over His flock. This man came from the most unlikely of sources & yet was taken right from under Pharaoh’s nose. That man was Moses. People may often forget that Moses’ illustrious & potentially lucrative career in Egypt was ended prematurely but nevertheless providentially.

Killing another man unnecessarily, in a fit of rage, isn’t the wisest of moves when your adopted grandfather is Pharaoh, but somehow God looked at the scenario & perhaps thought to Himself, now there’s a bloke that I can use. Given the circumstances, Moses was forced to run for his life.

And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out unto his brethren, and looked on their burdens: and he spied an Egyptian smiting a Hebrew, one of his brethren. And he looked this way and that way, and when he saw that there was no man, he slew the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand. And when he went out the second day, behold, two men of the Hebrews strove together: and he said to him that did the wrong, Wherefore smitest thou thy fellow? And he said, Who made thee a prince and a judge over us? intendest thou to kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian? And Moses feared, and said, Surely this thing is known. Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to slay Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian: and he sat down by a well (Exodus2:11-15).

In order to escape the wrath of the king & its obvious penalty, he ran away to Midian. There, he became a keeper of sheep [just like Abel], taking the role on from the seven daughters of Reuel (Jethro) whom he had defended against other Shepherds [this is another Pastoral trait] when they came to water their flock. Moses faithfully executed this duty until the day The Angel of The Lord called to him out of the bush that burned, but was not consumed of the flames (Exodus3:2).

*Let me say something important. Moses’ act of murder, although wrong, reveals something Pastoral in his nature. A true Shepherd protects his flock & is prepared to lay his life down for them. Instinctively, when he saw an Israelite being mistreated, he killed the abuser. In any reasonable context it’s plain that Moses [given his position in Egypt] possessed enough authority to stop the abuse with a simple command. Yet he didn’t. He killed the Egyptian & hid his body. However, a day later he sees two Hebrews arguing & steps in to find out why they’re in dispute. Rightly or wrongly, a bonafide Shepherd will deal with a wolf severely, however, he’ll approach & treat the flock very differently. Moses definitely possessed a Pastor’s heart.

Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters: and they came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father’s flock. And the shepherds came and drove them away: but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock. And when they came to Reuel their father, he said, How is it that ye are come so soon today? And they said, An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds, and also drew water enough for us, and watered the flock. And he said unto his daughters, And where is he? why is it that ye have left the man? call him, that he may eat bread. And Moses was content to dwell with the man: and he gave Moses Zipporah his daughter (Exodus2:16-21).

Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the back side of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb (Exodus3:1).

God looks at the heart of a man. Given the task ahead, The Lord decided that Moses was the one for the job & as stated previously, Moses proved that he was more prepared to protect & defend the flock of God under any & every circumstance than many who are occupying pulpits [I use the word occupy deliberately because these men act like dictators] today. Just like Pharaoh, some leaders in The Church rule their congregations with force & cruelty. They abuse the flock biblically, financially, mentally, emotionally & even sexually. This is heartbreaking to witness, but I have seen it happen many, many times.

Being a Shepherd is a full-time requirement & as with any place of service, when the master calls, you answer. Yet The Church has happily accepted the cart being before the horse in this matter & continues to fund, follow & feed men who have no right to be where they are. It seems to me that certain parts of The Church, as well as the men who claim to be its leaders, have forgotten the example of the One Who said that He was The Good Shepherd & that He laid His life down for the sheep. It’s impossible to sincerely hold Christ as the head of The Church whilst systematically abusing His flock.

Over the years I’ve seen a lot of things with my own eyes & heard a lot of things with my own ears. In the midst of it all I’ve come to realise that The Lord has allowed me to witness everything to one end; I learned how not to do particular things. I’ve seen ministry with little or no accountability, yet incredibly gifted spiritually, become a law unto itself. I’ve known men personally who were genuinely called of God & anointed by Him, succumb to the love of money & were subsequently seduced by it. I’ve seen Pastoral care sold out in favour of psycho-babble & cheap motivational talk in order to get bums on seats. I’ve known ministers who were Shepherds in name only & wolves by nature. I’ve seen all of these things happen in ONE fellowship & much more besides.

Anyone who is talented as a speaker, or storyteller, who preaches a popular message & has the right image, can carve out a lucrative career for themselves & become immensely prosperous by shamelessly abusing the sheep ad infinitum. So it is. Where are those like Abel, who are prepared to lay their lives down in order to execute their office righteously? Where are those like Joseph, who think more of others than themselves & who give far more than they take? Where are men like Moses, who loved God’s people more than they loved him? Truly Paul states to The Church at Corinth, ‘And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved’ (2^ndCorinthians12:15). I tell you, men like these are few & far between because real Pastoral ministry is hard work. It is often lonely. It is often thankless. Yet God rewards His truly faithful Shepherds with an unfading crown of glory (1Peter5:4).

By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward (Hebrews11:24-26).

Moses’ calling wasn’t about him; it was about God’s people. It was about the sheep. He didn’t ask for the job & when The Lord offered it to him he didn’t want the job. There were no benefits. There was no salary. There was no compensation package. God was asking this man, who had spent many years tending his father-in-law’s sheep, to Shepherd His people Israel. Moses loved his brethren enough to commit murder. He loved them enough to turn his back on Egypt. He loved them enough to obey The Lord & return to lead them out. These are qualities every Shepherd ought to have.

However, when Moses went to the elders & took them with him to see Pharaoh, the ruler refused their request & did not rightfully acknowledge The Lord as God. He increased their workload & the children of Israel were not happy about it at all. ‘And they met Moses and Aaron, who stood in the way, as they came forth from Pharaoh: and they said unto them, The Lord look upon you, and judge; because ye have made our savor to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to slay us’(Exodus5:20-21). Under his leadership, Israel was miraculously delivered from Egypt & after they passed through the parted waters of The Red Sea, they sang the song of Moses (Exodus15:1-21). Moses was the man. ‘And Israel saw that great work which the Lord did upon the Egyptians: and the people feared the Lord, and believed the Lord, and his servant Moses.’(Exodus14:31). Moses is continually called God’s servant throughout scripture & The Lord held him in regard.

When Israel came to Marah & the waters were too bitter for them to drink, they were thirsty, so they murmured against Moses. Moses cried out to God & he was shown a tree that made the water drinkable when it was cast in. They entered the wilderness of Sin & the people were hungry, so they murmured against Moses & Aaron. The Lord provided them with Quail in the evening & Manna in the morning.

They came & pitched at Rephidim [where they fought the Amalekites] & again the people were thirsty, so they chided Moses & murmured against him. Again, Moses cried out to God on their behalf & The Lord provided water for them out of the rock. When Moses was with God in Sinai, receiving the Ten Commandments, the children of Israel erected a golden calf. This angered The Lord to the point that He wanted to wipe Israel out completely. Once again, Moses intercedes. ‘And Moses besought the Lord his God, and said, Lord, why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people, which thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power, and with a mighty hand? Wherefore should the Egyptians speak, and say, For mischief did he bring them out, to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth? Turn from thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against thy people.’ (Exodus32:11-12). Moses went as far as to say that if God was not able to forgive Israel’s sin, that He should blot his name out from before Him. This is a Pastor’s heart.

Miriam & Aaron murmured against Moses & this angered The Lord. He affectionately defends the man He calls His servant. As soon as The Lord’s presence leaves, Miriam is struck with leprosy and Aaron repents. What does Moses do? He prays for her. He intercedes, just as he had done whenever Israel spoke against him. This is a man who loved God’s people more than they loved him. Like all true Shepherds, Moses cried out to God on Israel’s behalf even when they sinned against God by speaking evil of him. Time after time, Moses’ first response is to intercede on behalf of the flock of God & The Lord responds in kind according to his request. A true Shepherd does this on behalf of God’s people, even when they murmur & rebel.

This humble servant of The Lord was spoken to intimately by God, as a man to a friend & yet for all of his access to The Lord he was described as the meekest man on the face of the earth. In Moses we see a Pastor who pleads with The Lord on behalf of his congregation, not for himself, but for them & for The Lord’s Names sake.

And Moses spake unto the Lord, saying, Let the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation, which may go out before them, and which may go in before them, and which may lead them out, and which may bring them in; that the congregation of the Lord be not as sheep which have no shepherd (Numbers27:15-17).

A true Shepherd will desire everything for the sheep that The Lord desires and he will do everything he can to see that they receive it, even beyond his tenure. Lord Jesus give us men like this man. Give us Pastors after your own heart.

End Of Part Three

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