Now I See

He blessed Joseph, and said,

“The God before whom my fathers

Abraham and Isaac walked,

the God who has been my shepherd

all my life to this day.”

Genesis 48:15

Jacob now refers to God as his shepherd, the shepherd that has guided and protected him his whole life. David also referred to God as his shepherd: “The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want” (Psalm 23:1). In John 10:11 Jesus Christ says, “I am the good shepherd.” He is the shepherd that lays down His life for His sheep.

Jacob learned through his lifetime that God was with him. He learned that God was sovereign. He learned that God was the door and God was the gate, and no one and nothing could pass through that gate without God Almighty’s permission. Jacob realized that God had always been there leading him, guiding him, protecting him, even when Jacob was not seeking Him.

I can look back on my life and see so many places where God sovereignly watched over me. I see how “in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus” (Romans 3:25–26).

The wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23), and sin has had every right to claim its wage in my life. Yet God protected me. God, in His patience, in His love, gave me time. Now God, by faith in Christ, is my justifier.

Now I look back and see all that He has done for me, even when I gave Him no glory. Now I give Him all the glory, for now my eyes see.

Jacob now saw and knew that it was God who made him lie down in green pastures, and it was God who led him beside still waters. He learned that when he had fallen, it was God who picked him up and restored his soul. It was God who guided him in paths of righteousness, for he knew not the way on his own.

Jesus said in John 10:27–28, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.”

Precious one, do you hear His voice?

Is Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd, your shepherd?

I pray He is.

Oh Father,

For the sake of Your name and the sake of the name of my Lord Jesus Christ, guide me in paths of righteousness. For I walk in the valley of the shadow of death, the valley of this world. There are temptations and evils on my every side, yet I will fear no evil, for You are with me. Your rod and Your staff are with me, and I know that You will make the way when there seems to be no way. You are my shepherd, and nothing is too difficult for You. I know that I dwell with You forever, and one day I will dwell in Your house and behold Your beauty. My Jesus, You have been my shepherd, and to this day my shepherd You remain. Thank You for guiding me, loving me, protecting me. You are my everything. To You be all the glory.

My Jesus, it is in Your name I pray,

Amen