John 10:11 I am the good Shepherd; the good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. (Holy Bible Recovery Version)
Joseph, like Abel, was a shepherd (Genesis 37:2). This typifies the aspect of the constitution of Christ in the mature life that is the shepherding life to take care of others. In chapter 37 Joseph not only fed and shepherded the flock;…he was sent by his father to [also] shepherd his brothers. Thus, Joseph shepherded not only his father’s flock, but also his father’s sons. The Lord Jesus also came as a shepherd (John 10:11).
The reigning aspect is firstly the shepherding aspect. If you do not have the burden to shepherd others and to feed them, you will never be able to reign. Reigning authority comes from the shepherding life. Eventually, Joseph reigned over his brothers. But he did not reign over them until he had already shepherded them. He was sent by his father to shepherd his brothers and to feed them. In like manner, Jesus came not as a King to rule others; He came as a Shepherd. (Life-Study of Genesis, msg. 110, by Witness Lee)
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