The Watchman's Diary

Imagine a world where events that are to take place were known before they did and we can avoid or survive them. Now, imagine that same world two thousand years from now when what remains is a record of this time complete with witness statements and a measurable one hundred percent accuracy in how events foretold unfolded. What would you say of those who didn’t accept or believe it? How often have we heard someone exclaim, “if only I had a crystal ball!” People today continue to seek out mediums, palm readers, and self-proclaimed psychics to give them a glimpse of tomorrow. What would you say of those people if the scenario described above exists today?

Bible prophecies have been fulfilled exactly as foretold and even with the benefit of hindsight may continue to doubt or disbelieve the Word of God. They even mock the idea of Yeshua’s (Jesus’) return, fulfilling what the Apostle Peter wrote––in the last days, scoffers will come scoffing, following after their own desires and saying, “Where is this promise of His coming?” (2 Peter 3:3-4).

The Biblical prophets often chastised the leaders of Israel for not shepherding the people and for leading them astray through idol worship. Zechariah wrote, “The idols utter deceit and diviners see lies. They relate false dreams and comfort in vain. Therefore the people wander like sheep, afflicted because there is no shepherd” (Zechariah 10:2). The continued failure to shepherd God’s people eventually led to God declaring that He Himself would gather His people and shepherd them. The prophet Micah proclaimed, “I will surely gather Jacob—all of you! I will surely gather the remnant of Israel. I will put them together like sheep in a pen, like a flock within its pasture” (Micah 2:12).

Continuing in the 13th verse, Micah exclaimed “One breaking through will go up before them. They will break through, pass through the gate and go out by it. Their King will pass through before them—Adonai at their head! Drawing on this imagery, Yeshua said, “I am the gate for the sheep” (John 10:7). “I am the gate! If anyone comes in through Me, he will be saved. He will come and go and find pasture” (John 10:9). “I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep” (John 10:11).

Yeshua’s words declared who He is and His actions backed them up completely. God broke through ahead of His people to pasture them Just as Micah and the other prophets declared. Being the gate, Yeshua declared that “No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). He perfectly fulfilled the words spoken by Ezekiel, “So I will set up One Shepherd over them, My servant David—He will tend them, He will feed them Himself and be their shepherd” (Ezekiel 34:23). Stepping back a few verses, God declared that He Himself will shepherd his people, which is a testimony to Yeshua’s words that He and the Father are one (John 10:30). This is the word of God delivered through Ezekiel:

“For thus says Adonai Elohim: “Here I am! I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out. As a shepherd seeks out his sheep on the day he is among his scattered flock, so I will seek out My sheep. I will rescue them out of all the places where they have been scattered, on a day of cloud and thick darkness. I will bring them out from the peoples. I will gather them from the countries. I will bring them back to their own land. I will shepherd them upon the mountains of Israel, by the streams and in all the habitable places of the land. I will shepherd them in a good pasture—their grazing place will be on the high mountains of Israel. There they will lie down on good grazing ground. They will feed in a rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. I will tend My flock and make them lie down”—it is a declaration of Adonai. “I will seek the lost, bring back the stray, bind up the broken and strengthen the sick. But the fat and the strong I will destroy—I will tend them with justice” (Ezekiel 34:11-16).

 Yeshua fulfilled every description of the Messiah throughout the Old Testament (Tanakh) and will return to complete His plan. While we may not have the benefit of walking with Him to Emmaus as he perfectly explains this, we do have His word and many witness statements to guide us. We have the benefit of hindsight but most importantly, we have the Ruach Elohim (Spirit of God) to guide us. Will you open your heart to Him and allow Him to lead you into all truth?