Soul ShepherdSýnishorn

Have you ever had the perception that Jesus was always angry with you, or He was waiting for you to mess up? Some grow up with this view. Some are taught this view. But Isaiah 40:11 tells us of a Shepherd that is quite the opposite of “angry God.”

Using descriptive words like “tends, gathers, carries close, gently leads,” Isaiah is not only painting the picture of an actual shepherd, but he is also giving the reader a glimpse into the character of Jesus himself. Does this sound like “angry God” to you?

Think of it this way: If God was always angry with us, would He have sent His son to die for us? Would He have been willing to give the life of His son to make a way for us to be with Him if He was always mad?

Does God get angry? Yes. At various points in the Bible, God is mentioned as angry. However, He doesn’t hold His anger over us until we please Him again. Remember, He sent His son, Jesus, to die for forgiveness of sin. He’s not in the business of holding a grudge, nor does He expect us to work our way back into His presence. He’s a caring Soul Shepherd. How do I know this? I remember the descriptive words of Isaiah: He “tends, gathers, carries close, gently leads.”

Today, examine your personal view of God’s character. Do you feel He is angry or always waiting to be mad at you? Maybe you feel like He's been angry with you for a while and that's why you feel distant from Him. Does your view line up with God’s Word and who He says He is? Can I invite you to draw near to the Soul Shepherd? As we draw near to God, we can be sure that He draws near to us and shepherds our souls. Ask Him to reveal His character to you through this lens of a shepherd.