With over 40% of the Old Testament written as a narrative, this literary style is the most common type of literature in the Bible.

The stories of the Bible are of real people who experienced both successes and mistakes in their lives; sometimes, they were good examples to us follow and other times not. Note carefully that the Bible does not attempt to deceive the reader about the legacy of a person; only God defines the legacy of a person.

Narratives force us to learn ancient history. Because they are referenced by other books of the Bible, there are certain narratives you should know well for both their historical and theological significance. Much of Christianity's principles are derived from historical narratives; however, historical narratives are also where many controversies lie.

And while human characters may capture our attention, the narrative's most important information is about the character of God Himself, and how to be holy as God is holy.

The Waterway of Joseph (Bahr Yussef) can be seen today as a canal connecting the Nile River with Lake Moeris in the area of the Faiyum Oasis. No one knows how this 200 mile waterway came to commemorate a non-Egyptian name, but its function was to: a) control the flooding of the Nile River, b) regulate the level of the Nile River in the summer, and c) provide irrigation for the immediate area. The Waterway of Joseph is dated to the reign of Amenemhat III and the early rise of the city of Avaris in the region of Goshen.

Nile flood records, discovered in 1844, were inscriptions on a cliff face marking the flood heights of the Nile. During the reign of Amenemhat III (12th dynasty), consecutive years were found to have floods 9 meters over normal or 4x normal volume of water. Proud of the Canal of Joseph, Amenemhat III chose to be entombed in a pyramid in nearby Dahshūr.

The only ancient historical record that may be associated with this canal is found in the Bible, and it is the narrative of Joseph. Betrayed by his brothers, Joseph was sold as a slave (Gen 37:26-28, 36; 39:1). But God was with Joseph, and he prospered (Gen 39:2-6, 21-23). From an early age, he had the ability to dream and interpret dreams (Gen 37:5-7, 9-11), and he understood that these interpretations came from God (Gen 40:8).

Egyptians believed that dreams were a way in which a deity would communicate directly with a human being. Egyptian priests were in possession of dream interpretation manuals; thus, Joseph's ability to interpret dreams without a reference book was significant. Fulfillment of Joseph's interpretations confirmed his prophetic ability and elevated his stature (Gen 41:9-14).

Brought to Pharaoh's attention, Joseph interprets Pharaoh's dream, involving the Nile River, which Joseph interprets as 7 years of plenty and 7 years of famine. For Joseph's interpretation and recommendation to prepare for the famine, Pharaoh makes him the Vizier of Egypt.

From an archaeological perspective, the reign of Amenemhat III is considered the Golden Age of the Middle Kingdom when Egypt experienced its highest level of peace and economic prosperity.

Egypt was divided into territorial areas called "nomes," led by "nomarchs," who were responsible for administrative duties such as tax collection. These "governors" had significant power and wealth, and if Pharaoh was weak, they could be strong enough to assert themselves locally or nationally to become Pharaoh.

However, unique to Amenemhat III's reign, the nomarchs are powerless; all the wealth and power is concentrated with Pharaoh. A new agricultural office is set up, called the Department of the People's Giving in which people sold their excess crops to the government storehouses where they were kept and later sold / distributed in times of crisis like a famine.

This archaeological historical record of both the Canal of Joseph and the golden age of Amenemhat III appears to be consistent and correlates very well with the biblical account of Joseph. Despite this strong circumstantial evidence, it is difficult to make the definitive claim that the biblical Joseph is the one responsible for the Canal of Joseph and the golden age of Amenemhat III. There are significant disagreements of interpretation of the archaeological data, especially among those who deny the historicity of the Bible, and among them:

The dating of Israel's entrance into Egypt. The dispute, correlating the biblical chronology to Egyptian dynasty chronology, centers on the time associated with intermediate periods, a time when there was no central government and nomarchs competed for power.

The Egyptian record of history lacks an account mentioning the name of a person of Joseph's stature that matches the biblical account nor the details of the biblical account. But there are many reasons for this silence of data.

Nonetheless, without the biblical account, historians are left with little explanation of the archaeological data. With the biblical account strongly supported by archaeological data, it shifts the scientific focus on to the assumptions that form the basis of other archaeological interpretations that deny God's word.

1. The name and career of Joseph and the renown Egyptian vizier Anku match.

The Bible records Joseph's Egyptian name, "Then Pharaoh named Joseph Zaphenath-paneah." (Gen 41:45)

"Zaphenath" is the approximate Hebrew transliteration of its Egyptian term. By incorporating this Egyptian foreign term, its Egyptian meaning of "he who is called" is carried through.

"Paneah" is a transliteration of the Egyptian term pa-Aneah" meaning "the one who lives."

Taken together, Joseph Zaphenath-paneah, means "Joseph, he who is called, the one who lives."

During the same period of Joseph, the Egyptian vizier Ankhu was seen as a hero to the Egyptians. According to Egyptian records, the vizier named Ankhu is a shortened name of endearment of a longer name (like a pet name) meaning "the one who lives."

Ankhu is found in some Egyptian records as "Ankhu, Overseer of the Fields," and there are references to the "granaries of Ankhu," which indicate that he was involved with the storage and distribution of agricultural resources.

2. The colossal Avaris Statue discovered during 1986-1988.

Located in the ancient city of Avaris, biblical Goshen, a large palace with 2 rows of 12 columns was discovered. Unusual for Egyptian architecture, the structure resembled Syrian designs found in ancient Harran (biblical Haran) of the Bronze period.

Within the garden of the palace were 12 vaulted, unusually prominent, tombs containing Canaanite pottery shards and weapons. Perhaps the most significant Egyptian find of the last quarter century, amidst these vaulted tombs, was a single large pyramid tomb, which was highly unusual, because any pyramid shaped tomb was reserved for Egyptian royalty.

The pyramid tomb housed a large statue of a seated non-Egyptian government official estimated to be 1.5 times larger than life.

The statue had a yellow skin and a red mushroom shaped hairstyle often seen in Egyptian art representing Asiatics.

This high ranking official wore a striped garment that was painted with at least three colors: black, red, and white. On the right shoulder was a throw stick which represented this non-Egyptian official residing in biblical Goshen.

While rare larger than life non-royal Egyptian statues have been found in Egypt's tombs and temples, no statue like this of a non-Egyptian ruling official, has ever been discovered in Egypt.

These findings were dated to 1,700 B.C.

Based on biblical chronology, the Exodus took place around 1,500 B.C., and the nation of Israel was in Egypt for around 215 years. Biblical chronology matches the dating of the Avaris Statue, and many previously skeptical scholars now identify this statue as the Joseph Statue.

Reference: The Statue of an Asiatic Man from the Tell El-Dab^ca, Egypt (R. Schiestl, 2021)

Only Moses, who was born, raised and educated in Egypt, and did not enter the Promised Land, was qualified to be the eyewitness and author of the Pentateuch.

Chosen by God to lead His people, Moses was uniquely endowed. Only Moses, who had the literary education in the royal court of Egypt and who the Lord spoke to as a friend, had the qualifications and skills to be the author of the Pentateuch.

Moses would reveal the very words of God such that he would be as God to his brother Aaron who, in turn, would speak to the nation of Israel (Exodus 4:10-17).

Moses was God's chosen administrator to the nation of Israel. God communicated publicly with Moses to establish him as His authorized representative (Exodus 19:9).

God communicated regularly with Moses at the tabernacle (Exodus 29:42; 33:9).

God communicated through Moses to teach the nation of Israel His Word (Exodus 24:2-4; 34:27-28; Deut 31:9, 24-26).

Thus when God spoke through Moses (Ex 24:4), his words would be the inerrant words of God.

Reference: Of Egyptian Words, Geography, and Culture

How could Moses write a historical narrative of events that occurred thousands of years before his existence?

Moses indicated that he used sources in writing about early Hebrew history. Using the tôledôt formula in Genesis, Moses refers to sources as: Accounts, Generations, or Histories

These are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens. (Gen 2:4, ESV)

This is the book of the generations of Adam. When God created man, he made him in the likeness of God. (Gen 5:1, ESV)

These are the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God. (Gen 6:9, ESV; 10:1; 11:10, 27; 25:12, 19; 36:1; 37:2)

He received the tablets containing the Decalogue at Mount Sinai written by God and recorded God's word of the covenant that would later be known as the Law or the Mosaic Covenant.

When He had finished speaking with him upon Mount Sinai, He gave Moses the two tablets of the testimony, tablets of stone, written by the finger of God. (Ex 31:18, LSB)

27) Then Yahweh said to Moses, "Write down these words, for in accordance with these words I have cut a covenant with you and with Israel." 28) So he was there with Yahweh forty days and forty nights; he did not eat bread or drink water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments. (Ex 34:27-28, LSB)

12) Then Yahweh spoke to you from the midst of the fire; you heard the sound of words, but you saw no form—only a voice. 13) So He declared to you His covenant which He commanded you to do, that is, the Ten Commandments; and He wrote them on two tablets of stone. 14) And Yahweh commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and judgments, that you might do them in the land where you are going over to possess it. (Deut 4:12-14, LSB; 5:22; 9:9-11)

Reference: Of Desert Atmosphere and Lifestyle

Throughout both Old and New Testaments, no one disputed the writings of Moses.

Levites, the priesthood of Israel, recognized Mosaic authorship (Neh 9:14).

Joshua, the successor to Moses, recognized Mosaic authorship (Josh 23:6).

King David acknowledged Mosaic authorship (1 Kings 2:3).

The historian of Jewish kingships referred to Mosaic authorship (2 Kings 14:6; 2 Chron 5:10).

The prophets of God cited Mosaic authorship like Ezra (Ezra 7:6), Daniel (Dan 9:11-13), and Malachi (Mal 4:4).

Jesus did not question Mosaic authorship (Matt 8:4; Mark 12:26).

The Apostles cited Mosaic authorship (John 1:17; Acts 15:21; Rom 10:5).

The writers of the Bible wrote as divinely inspired personal eyewitnesses, and sometimes used secondary sources, as a basis to write their own observations. The author may also check the accuracy of the sources.

1) Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, 2) just as those, who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word, handed them down to us, 3) it seemed fitting for me as well, having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write it out for you in orderly sequence, most excellent Theophilus, 4) so that you may know the certainty about the things you have been taught. (Luke 1:1-4, LSB)

24) This is the disciple who is bearing witness to these things and wrote these things, and we know that his witness is true. 25) And there are also many other things which Jesus did, which if they were written one after the other, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. (John 21:24-25, LSB)

Not only is the Bible's narrative historically true, but all of the Bible's content is trustworthy as the genuine word of God.

God's word, when originally recorded, was inerrant.

When you read the historical narratives of the Bible, you can take the natural meaning of its words and read them literally.

To the Jew, Paul validates the New Testament.

To the Gentile, Peter validates the Old Testament.

Truth corresponds to reality and is not subjective.

While some narratives may not correspond to our current understanding of science, objectivity demands a literal reading and cannot rule out the possibility of the supernatural.

There are four Greek words translated into English as "love;" but, the three most common are listed here.

Phileō - This Greek term is the most commonly used term for love and refers to the general attraction to a person (friend or family) or thing (god, food, sports, etc). It is understood as love in the context of friendship or devotion.

Storge – This term refers to a familial love that is natural between a parent and child.

Erōs – This Greek term describes a love that desires to have or take possession. It is in reference to a love between a man and woman that reflects a longing or craving desire. This type of love has a transcendent aspect as it involves sensual desires, expression and experience.

Through John's eyes, the nature of God's love stands in stark contrast to "phileō, storge," and "erōs," which are conditional and involve some form of personal benefit. God's love, as John 3:16 indicates, is not one in which the one who loves gains any personal benefit; instead, its self sacrificing act for the unholy is what makes God's "agapē" love unfathomable.

For God so loved (agapaō) the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. (John 3:16, LSB)

John's prologue provides a dimension of time that contributes to the incomprehensible depth of God's "agapē" love (John 1:1-4). As Jesus is the means of expressing God's love, His preexistence before His birth infers that God's love was His purpose from the very beginning.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. (John 1:1-4, LSB)

Moreover, among all of the New Testament authors, only John makes the connection that Jesus Christ is where the Word of God is the Act of God. Lost in the English translation, the significance of this becomes more apparent when understood in Hebrew, because the Hebrew term for truth is defined as a correspondence of one's word with one's actions in historical reality. God's love is true and made visible when He sent and self sacrificed His only Son Jesus.

Of all of the supernatural characteristics of God, Believers are asked to mimic only one - His "agapē" love (1 John 3:16). Experiencing God's "agapē" love and attempting to express "agapē" love may provide a personal glimpse into the essence of His character of love.

And God does not "agapē" love for "agapē" love's sake. In view of His Son's sacrifice and these two commandments, the primary purpose of "agapē" love is initial salvation for non-Believers and sanctification salvation for Believers. God's character of "agapē" love provided the means and motive by which one may be obliged to fulfill God's command, "be holy for I am holy" (1 Pet 1:16).

While the verb "agapaō" is found in in first century extra-biblical texts to express today's cultural meaning of "esteeming another", the earliest use of the noun "agapē" was found only in the Bible. It is a supernatural term that avails its meaning to those who believe in God and read His word. Without the constant reminder through Bible study, one will forget and assume the natural and cultural meaning of the verb "love" as "esteeming love" without any concern for one's holiness.

Reference: God is Love

Ezra and Nehemiah are the only two historical narratives recording the nation of Israel's return to the Promised Land.

The narratives record who God used to allow Israel's return and provided proof of God's presence with His people.

Rebuilding on the site of Solomon's Temple, the Second Temple would be enhanced by Herod and become the setting for the New Testament. The post exilic prophet Malachi, who pens the last book of the Old Testament, refers to this, and when Jesus quotes Malachi, the narrative transition from the Old Testament to the New is established.

Behold, I am going to send My messenger, and he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple; and the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming," says Yahweh of hosts. (Mal 3:1, LSB)

Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and awesome day of Yahweh. (Mal 4:5, LSB)

7) Now as these men were going away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John, "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 8) But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings' palaces! 9) But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and one who is more than a prophet. 10) This is the one about whom it is written,
'Behold, I send My messenger ahead of You,
Who will prepare Your way before You.'
11) Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist! Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. (Matt 11:7-11, LSB)

Through the recording of the earthly life and ministry of Jesus Christ, the four Gospels reveal how God continues to work in fulfilling His covenant promises to Abraham.

The Book of Acts records the development of the early church, the missionary journeys of the apostles, and the spectacular works of the Holy Spirit. The apostle Paul's epistles were produced as a consequence of and correspond to his missionary journeys.

Do you see God's covenant promise of land with Abraham and what God intended with it? Did you notice that the promise of land was unconditional but entrance to it conditional?

On that day Yahweh cut a covenant with Abram, saying, "To your seed I have given this land, from the river of Egypt as far as the great river, the river Euphrates (Gen 15:18, LSB)

3) Now Moses went up to God, and Yahweh called to him from the mountain, saying, "Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob and tell the sons of Israel: 4) 'You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I lifted you up on eagles' wings and brought you to Myself. 5) So now then, if you will indeed listen to My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My treasured possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; 6) and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel."
7) So Moses came and called the elders of the people and set before them all these words which Yahweh had commanded him. 8) And all the people answered together and said, "All that Yahweh has spoken we will do!" And Moses brought back the words of the people to Yahweh. (Ex 19:3-8, LSB)

2) And Joshua said to all the people, "Thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel, 'From ancient times your fathers lived beyond the River, namely, Terah, the father of Abraham and the father of Nahor, and they served other gods. 3) Then I took your father Abraham from beyond the River and led him through all the land of Canaan and multiplied his seed and gave him Isaac. 4) To Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau, and to Esau I gave Mount Seir to possess it; but Jacob and his sons went down to Egypt. 5) Then I sent Moses and Aaron, and I smote Egypt by what I did in its midst; and afterward I brought you out. 6) And I brought your fathers out of Egypt, and you came to the sea; and Egypt pursued your fathers with chariots and horsemen to the Red Sea. 7) Then they cried out to Yahweh; He put darkness between you and the Egyptians and brought the sea upon them and covered them; and your own eyes saw what I did in Egypt. And you lived in the wilderness for many days. 8) Then I brought you into the land of the Amorites who lived beyond the Jordan, and they fought with you; and I gave them into your hand, and you took possession of their land, and I destroyed them before you. 9) Then Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose and fought against Israel, and he sent and summoned Balaam the son of Beor to curse you. 10) But I was not willing to listen to Balaam. So he blessed you repeatedly, and I delivered you from his hand. 11) And you crossed the Jordan and came to Jericho; and the citizens of Jericho fought against you, and the Amorite and the Perizzite and the Canaanite and the Hittite and the Girgashite, the Hivite and the Jebusite. Thus I gave them into your hand. 12) Then I sent the hornet before you, and it drove out the two kings of the Amorites from before you, but not by your sword or your bow. 13) And I gave you a land on which you had not labored and cities which you had not built, and you have lived in them; you are eating of vineyards and olive groves which you did not plant.' (Josh 24:2-13, LSB)

Note carefully the influence of culture and who people prefer to follow. David is the only person who was able to unite all of Israel and work towards acquiring the Promised Land; but, with disobedience to God's word comes failure. Without God's blessing, the promise of national existence ends with the division into the Northern kingdom Israel and the Southern kingdom Judah.

4) Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah; 5) and they said to him, "Behold, you have grown old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint a king for us to judge us like all the nations." 6) But the thing was evil in the sight of Samuel when they said, "Give us a king to judge us." And Samuel prayed to Yahweh. 7) Then Yahweh said to Samuel, "Listen to the voice of the people in regard to all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them. 8) Like all the deeds which they have done since the day that I brought them up from Egypt even to this day—in that they have forsaken Me and served other gods—so they are doing to you also. 9) So now, listen to their voice; however, you shall solemnly testify to them and tell them of the custom of the king who will reign over them." (1 Sam 8:4-9, LSB)

1) Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, "Behold, we are your bone and your flesh. 2) Previously, when Saul was king over us, you were the one who led out and brought in Israel; and Yahweh said to you, 'You will shepherd My people Israel, and you will be a ruler over Israel." (2 Sam 5:1-2, LSB)

9) Now Yahweh was angry with Solomon because his heart was turned away from Yahweh, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice, 10) and had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not walk after other gods; but he did not keep what Yahweh had commanded. 11) So Yahweh said to Solomon, "Because this has happened with you: you have not kept My covenant and My statutes, which I have commanded you, so I will surely tear the kingdom from you, and will give it to your servant. 12) Nevertheless I will not do it in your days for the sake of your father David, but I will tear it out of the hand of your son. 13) However, I will not tear away all the kingdom, but I will give one tribe to your son for the sake of My servant David and for the sake of Jerusalem which I have chosen." (1 Ki 11:9-13, LSB)

16) And they forsook all the commandments of Yahweh their God and made for themselves molten images, even two calves, and made an Asherah and worshiped all the host of heaven and served Baal. 17) Then they made their sons and their daughters pass through the fire, and practiced divination and omens, and sold themselves to do what is evil in the sight of Yahweh, provoking Him to anger. 18) So Yahweh was very angry with Israel and caused them to depart from His presence; none was left except the tribe of Judah alone.
19) Also Judah did not keep the commandments of Yahweh their God, but walked in the statutes which Israel had made. 20) So Yahweh rejected all the seed of Israel and afflicted them and gave them into the hand of plunderers, until He had cast them from His presence.
21) When He had torn Israel from the house of David, they made Jeroboam the son of Nebat king. Then Jeroboam drove Israel away from following Yahweh and made them sin a great sin. 22) And the sons of Israel walked in all the sins of Jeroboam which he did; they did not depart from them 23) until Yahweh caused Israel to depart from His presence, as He spoke through all His slaves the prophets. So Israel went into exile from their own land to Assyria until this day. (2 Ki 17:16-23, LSB)

Assyrian archaeological evidence records the fall of Israel and its deportation and dates it around 700 B.C., which coincides with biblical chronology.

8) Now on the seventh day of the fifth month, which was the nineteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, a servant of the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem. 9) And he burned the house of Yahweh, the king's house, and all the houses of Jerusalem; even every great house he burned with fire. 10) So all the military force of the Chaldeans who were with the captain of the guard tore down the walls around Jerusalem. 11) Then the rest of the people who were left in the city and the defectors who had defected to the king of Babylon and the rest of the multitude, Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard took away into exile. 12) But the captain of the guard left some of the poorest of the land to be vinedressers and plowmen. (2 Ki 25:8-12, LSB)

Neo-Babylonian archaeological evidence records the fall of Judah, Jerusalem, and its deportations and dates it around 600 B.C., which matches biblical chronology.

What do you observe of God's historical interaction with human beings in this group of narratives? Does God just use Believers to execute His plan?

1) Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia—in order to complete the word of Yahweh from the mouth of Jeremiah—Yahweh stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he had a proclamation pass throughout all his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying:
2) "Thus says Cyrus king of Persia, 'Yahweh, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and He has appointed me to build Him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah.
3) Whoever there is among you of all His people, may his God be with him! Let him go up to Jerusalem which is in Judah and rebuild the house of Yahweh, the God of Israel; He is the God who is in Jerusalem.
4) So everyone who remains, at whatever place he may sojourn, let the men of that place support him with silver and gold, with goods and cattle, together with a freewill offering for the house of God which is in Jerusalem.'" (Ezra 1:1-4, LSB)

2) So the king said to me, "Why is your face sad though you are not sick? This is nothing but sadness of heart." Then I was very much afraid. 3) I said to the king, "Let the king live forever. Why should my face not be sad when the city, the place of my fathers' tombs, lies waste and its gates have been consumed by fire?" 4) Then the king said to me, "What would you request?" So I prayed to the God of heaven. 5) I said to the king, "If it is good for the king, and if your servant is good before you, send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers' tombs, that I may rebuild it." 6) Then the king said to me, the queen sitting beside him, "How long will your journey be, and when will you return?" So it was good to the king to send me, and I gave him a set time. 7) And I said to the king, "If it is good to the king, let letters be given me for the governors of the provinces beyond the River, that they may allow me to pass through until I come to Judah, 8) and a letter to Asaph the keeper of the king's forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the fortress which is by the house of God, for the wall of the city and for the house to which I will go." And the king granted them to me because the good hand of my God was on me. (Neh 2:2-8, LSB)

The phrase "kingdom of God" is not used in the Old Testament; but, in the New Testament, the concept of the Promised Land is embedded in the phrase "kingdom of God." What do you observe about the kingdom?

30) And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31) And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. 32) He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, 33) and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and there will be no end of His kingdom." (Luke 1:30-33, LSB)

14) Now after John had been delivered up into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, 15) and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel." (Mark 1:14-15, LSB)

33) And when they came to the place called The Skull, there they crucified Him and the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left. 34) But Jesus was saying, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing." And they cast lots, dividing up His garments among themselves. 35) And the people stood by, looking on. And even the rulers were scoffing at Him, saying, "He saved others; let Him save Himself if this is the Christ of God, His Chosen One." 36) And the soldiers also mocked Him, coming up to Him, offering Him sour wine, 37) and saying, "If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself!" 38) Now there was also an inscription above Him, "THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS."
39) And one of the criminals hanging there was blaspheming Him, saying, "Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!" 40) But the other answered, and rebuking him said, "Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41) And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for what we have done; but this man has done nothing wrong." 42) And he was saying, "Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!" 43) And He said to him, "Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise." (Luke 23:33-43,, LSB)

1) The first account, O Theophilus, I composed, about all that Jesus began to do and teach, 2) until the day when He was taken up to heaven, after He had by the Holy Spirit given orders to the apostles whom He had chosen, 3) to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over forty days and speaking about the things concerning the kingdom of God. 4) And gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, "Which," He said, "you heard of from Me; 5) for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."
6) So when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, "Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?" 7) But He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has set by His own authority; 8) but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the end of the earth." (Acts 1:1-8, LSB)

16) So Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said, "Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen: 17) The God of this people Israel chose our fathers and lifted up the people during their stay in the land of Egypt, and with an uplifted arm He led them out from it. 18) And for a period of about forty years He put up with them in the wilderness. 19) And when He destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, He distributed their land as an inheritance—all of which took about 450 years. 20) After these things He gave them judges until Samuel the prophet. 21) Then they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years. 22) And after He had removed him, He raised up David to be their king, about whom He also said, bearing witness, 'I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My heart, who will do all My will.' 23) From the seed of this man, according to promise, God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, 24) after John had preached before His coming a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. (Acts 13:16-24, LSB)

9) Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, 10) nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. 11) And such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God. (1 Cor 6:9-11, LSB)

What similarities do you see with the Garden of Eden? Convert any dimensions you observe into measurements you are familiar with. While the book of Revelation is prophetic, it confirms God's historical promises made to Abraham; a fitting conclusion to the narrative of God's historical interaction with human beings!

On that day Yahweh cut a covenant with Abram, saying, "To your seed I have given this land, from the river of Egypt as far as the great river, the river Euphrates (Gen 15:18, LSB)

1) Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. 2) And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. 3) And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, 4) and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain. The first things passed away."
5) And He who sits on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." And He said, "Write, for these words are faithful and true." 6) Then He said to me, "They are done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost. 7) He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son. (Rev 21:1-7, LSB)

15) And the one who spoke with me had a gold measuring rod to measure the city and its gates and its wall. 16) And the city is laid out as a square, and its length is as great as the width; and he measured the city with the rod, 12,000 stadia; its length and width and height are equal. (Rev 21:15-16, LSB)

Because Abraham left his land by simply listening to the voice of God to the land God would show him, Abraham was judged as righteous and was the recipient of God's unilateral and unconditional covenant. Subsequently, God's divine covenants would govern God's historical interaction with human beings.

1) And Yahweh said to Abram,
"Go forth from your land, And from your kin And from your father's house, To the land which I will show you;
2) And I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you, And make your name great; And so you shall be a blessing;
3) And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed." (Gen 15:1-3, LSB)

And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your seed after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your seed after you. (Gen 17:8, LSB)

What do you observe about God in these narratives?

3) Now Moses went up to God, and Yahweh called to him from the mountain, saying, "Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob and tell the sons of Israel: 4) 'You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I lifted you up on eagles' wings and brought you to Myself. 5) So now then, if you will indeed listen to My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My treasured possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; 6) and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel."
7) So Moses came and called the elders of the people and set before them all these words which Yahweh had commanded him. 8) And all the people answered together and said, "All that Yahweh has spoken we will do!" And Moses brought back the words of the people to Yahweh. (Ex 19:3-8, LSB)

10) For the land, into which you are entering to possess it, is not like the land of Egypt from which you came out, where you used to sow your seed and water it with your foot like a vegetable garden. 11) But the land into which you are about to cross to possess it, a land of hills and valleys, drinks water from the rain of heaven, 12) a land for which Yahweh your God cares; the eyes of Yahweh your God are always on it, from the beginning even to the end of the year.
13) "And it will be that, if you listen obediently to my commandments which I am commanding you today, to love Yahweh your God and to serve Him with all your heart and all your soul, 14) that I, Yahweh, will give the rain for your land in its season, the early and late rains, that you may gather in your grain and your new wine and your oil. 15) And I will give grass in your fields for your cattle, and you will eat and be satisfied. 16) Beware lest your hearts be deceived, and you turn away and serve other gods and worship them, 17) and the anger of Yahweh will be kindled against you, and He will shut up the heavens so that will be no rain and the ground will not yield its fruit; and you will perish quickly from the good land which Yahweh is giving you. (Deut 11:10-17, LSB)

26) "See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse: 27) the blessing, if you listen to the commandments of Yahweh your God, which I am commanding you today; 28) and the curse, if you do not listen to the commandments of Yahweh your God, but turn aside from the way which I am commanding you today, by walking after other gods which you have not known. (Deut 11:26-28, LSB)

What do you observe about God in these narratives?

8) So now, thus you shall say to My servant David, 'Thus says Yahweh of hosts, "I Myself took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people Israel. 9) And I have been with you wherever you have gone and have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make you a great name, like the name of the great men who are on the earth. 10) And I will appoint a place for My people Israel and will plant them, that they may dwell in their own place and not be disturbed again; and the unrighteous will not afflict them any more as formerly, 11) even from the day that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel; and I will give you rest from all your enemies. Yahweh also declares to you that Yahweh will make a house for you. 12) When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up one of your seed after you, who will come forth from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13) He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14) I will be a father to him and he will be a son to Me; when he commits iniquity, I will reprove him with the rod of men and the strikes from the sons of men, 15) but My lovingkindness shall not be removed from him, as I removed it from Saul, whom I removed from before you. 16) And your house and your kingdom shall endure before Me forever; your throne shall be established forever."'" 17) According to all these words and according to all this vision, so Nathan spoke to David. (2 Sam 7:8-17, LSB)

15) Then the seventh angel sounded, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He will reign forever and ever."
16) And the twenty-four elders, who sit on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17) saying, "We give You thanks, O Lord God, the Almighty, who is and who was, because You have taken Your great power and have begun to reign. 18) And the nations were enraged, and Your rage came, and the time came for the dead to be judged, and to give reward to Your slaves—the prophets and the saints and those who fear Your name, the small and the great—and to destroy those who destroy the earth."
19) And the sanctuary of God which is in heaven was opened, and the ark of His covenant appeared in His sanctuary, and there were flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder and an earthquake and a great hailstorm. (Rev 11:15-19, LSB)

What do you observe about God in these narratives? While the passage from Ezekiel was prophetic, it was fulfilled historically some 600 years or so later. What does Jesus' name in Hebrew mean?

22) "Therefore say to the house of Israel, 'Thus says Lord Yahweh, "It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for My holy name, which you have profaned among the nations, to which you have come. 23) I will prove the holiness of My great name which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst. Then the nations will know that I am Yahweh,” declares Lord Yahweh, "when I prove Myself holy among you in their sight. 24) And I will take you from the nations, gather you from all the lands, and bring you into your own land. 25) Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your uncleanness and from all your idols. 26) Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27) I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to do My judgments. (Ezek 36:22-27, LSB)

16) "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. 17) For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. (John 3:16-17, LSB)

18) Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. 19) And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly. 20) But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the One who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21) And she will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins." (Matt 1:18-21, LSB)

19) And when He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, "This is My body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of Me." 20) And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, "This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood." (Luke 22:19-20, LSB)

What do you observe about God elective process in these narratives? What divine covenants do you see? How are they related?

And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your seed after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your seed after you. (Gen 17:8, LSB)

3) Now Moses went up to God, and Yahweh called to him from the mountain, saying, "Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob and tell the sons of Israel: 4) 'You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I lifted you up on eagles' wings and brought you to Myself. 5) So now then, if you will indeed listen to My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My treasured possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; 6) and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel." (Ex 19:3-6, LSB)

11) "But when the king came in to look over the dinner guests, he saw a man there who was not dressed in wedding clothes, 12) and he said to him, 'Friend, how did you come in here without wedding clothes?' And the man was speechless. 13) Then the king said to the servants, 'Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' 14) For many are called, but few are chosen." (Matt 22:11-14, LSB)

26) And in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness, for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; 27) and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
28) And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose. 29) Because those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers; 30) and those whom He predestined, He also called; and those whom He called, He also justified; and those whom He justified, He also glorified. (Rom 8:26-30, LSB)

9) But you are a chosen family, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10) for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. (1 Pet 2:9-10, LSB)

What do you observe about God's judicial process in these narratives? What is atonement? Is there a functional difference between the Old and New Testament?

Aaron shall make atonement on its horns once a year; he shall make atonement on it with the blood of the sin offering of atonement once a year throughout your generations. It is most holy to Yahweh." (Ex 30:10, LSB)

For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life.' (Lev 17:11, LSB)

14) "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; 15) nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16) Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
17) "Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. 18) For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19) Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. (Matt 5:14-19, LSB)

1) Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2) For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. 3) For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, 4) so that the righteous requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. (Rom 8:1-4, LSB)

What do you observe about God's standard for holiness in these narratives? What does it mean to be holy? Is there a difference between the Old and New Testament?

44) For I am Yahweh your God. Therefore, set yourselves apart as holy and be holy, for I am holy. And you shall not make yourselves unclean with any of the swarming things that move on the earth. 45) For I am Yahweh who brought you up from the land of Egypt to be your God; thus you shall be holy, for I am holy.'" (Lev 11:44-45, LSB)

Thus you shall be holy to Me, for I Yahweh am holy; and I have separated you from the peoples to be Mine. (Lev 20:26, LSB)

13) Therefore, having girded your minds for action, being sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14) As obedient children, not being conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, 15) but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your conduct; 16) because it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy." (1 Pet 1:13-16, LSB)

How do these people define the term "sheep?" What are sheep really like and how does that image apply? What sort of animal image describes you and your relationship with God?

But Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on the head of Ephraim, who was the younger, and his left hand on Manasseh's head, crossing his hands, although Manasseh was the firstborn. 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, the angel who has redeemed me from all evil,
Bless the lads; And may my name live on in them,
And the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; And may they grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth." (Gen 48:14-16, NASB)

Then Moses spoke to the Lord, saying, May the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation, who will go out and come in before them, and who will lead them out and bring them in, so that the congregation of the Lord will not be like sheep which have no shepherd." (Num 27:15-17, NASB)

5) These twelve Jesus sent out after instructing them, saying, "Do not go on a road to Gentiles, and do not enter a city of Samaritans; 6) but rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. (Matt 10:5-6, NASB)

22) And a Canaanite woman from that region came out and began to cry out, saying, "Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely demon-possessed." 23) But He did not answer her with even a word. And His disciples came up and urged Him, saying, "Send her away, because she keeps shouting at us!" 24) But He answered and said, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." (Matt 15:22-24, NASB)

14) I am the good shepherd, and I know My own, and My own know Me, 15) just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. 16) And I have other sheep that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will listen to My voice; and they will become one flock, with one shepherd. 17) For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it back. (John 10:14-17, NASB)

Was there a shepherd for God's people after Joshua? What are the teaching qualities of the leaders of the nation of Israel? Who is qualified? Compare how God intends a shepherd with what the nation of Israel desired.

When Joshua had dismissed the people, the sons of Israel went each to his inheritance to possess the land. The people served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who survived Joshua, who had seen all the great work of the Lord which He had done for Israel. Then Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died at the age of one hundred and ten. And they buried him in the territory of his inheritance in Timnath-heres, in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash. All that generation also were gathered to their fathers; and there arose another generation after them who did not know the Lord, nor yet the work which He had done for Israel. Then the sons of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord and served the Baals, and they forsook the Lord, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods from among the gods of the peoples who were around them, and bowed themselves down to them; thus they provoked the Lord to anger. So they forsook the Lord and served Baal and the Ashtaroth. The anger of the Lord burned against Israel, and He gave them into the hands of plunderers who plundered them; and He sold them into the hands of their enemies around them, so that they could no longer stand before their enemies. Wherever they went, the hand of the Lord was against them for evil, as the Lord had spoken and as the Lord had sworn to them, so that they were severely distressed. Then the Lord raised up judges who delivered them from the hands of those who plundered them. (Judg 2:6-16, NASB)

So he said, "I saw all Israel Scattered on the mountains, Like sheep which have no shepherd.
And the Lord said, 'These have no master. Let each of them return to his house in peace.'" (1 Kings 22:17, NASB; 2 Chron 18:16)

Then a man of God came to Eli and said to him, "This is what the Lord says: 'Did I not indeed reveal Myself to the house of your father when they were in Egypt in bondage to Pharaoh's house? Did I not choose them from all the tribes of Israel to be My priests, to go up to My altar, to burn incense, to carry an ephod before Me? And did I not give to the house of your father all the fire offerings of the sons of Israel? Why are you showing contempt for My sacrifice and My offering which I have commanded for My dwelling, and why are you honoring your sons above Me, by making yourselves fat with the choicest of every offering of My people Israel?' Therefore the Lord God of Israel declares, 'I did indeed say that your house and the house of your father was to walk before Me forever'; but now the Lord declares, 'Far be it from Me—for those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me will be insignificant. Behold, the days are coming when I will eliminate your strength and the strength of your father's house, so that there will not be an old man in your house. And you will look at the distress of My dwelling, in spite of all the good that I do for Israel; and there will never be an old man in your house. Yet I will not cut off every man of yours from My altar, so that your eyes will fail from weeping and your soul grieve, and all the increase of your house will die in the prime of life. And this will be the sign to you which will come in regard to your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas: on the same day both of them will die. But I will raise up for Myself a faithful priest who will do according to what is in My heart and My soul; and I will build him an enduring house, and he will walk before My anointed always. (1 Sam 2:27-35, NASB)

When he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell off the seat backward beside the gate, and his neck was broken and he died, for he was old and heavy. Thus he judged Israel forty years. (1 Sam 4:18, NASB)

And it came about when Samuel was old that he appointed his sons judges over Israel. Now the name of his firstborn was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judging in Beersheba. His sons, however, did not walk in his ways, but turned aside after dishonest gain and took bribes and perverted justice. Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah; and they said to him, "Behold, you have grown old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint a king for us to judge us like all the nations." (1 Sam 8:1-5, NASB)

What is the significance of king David?

13) But Samuel said to Saul, "You have acted foolishly! You have not kept the commandment of the Lord your God, which He commanded you, for the Lord would now have established your kingdom over Israel forever. 14) But now your kingdom shall not endure. The Lord has sought for Himself a man after His own heart, and the Lord has appointed him ruler over His people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you." (1 Sam 13:14, NASB)

Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, "Behold, we are your bone and your flesh. Previously, when Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel out and in. And the Lord said to you, 'You will shepherd My people Israel, and you will be a ruler over Israel.'" So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David made a covenant with them before the Lord at Hebron; then they anointed David king over Israel. (2 Sam 5:1-3, NASB)

The Lord is my shepherd, I will not be in need.
He lets me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters.
He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness
For the sake of His name. (Ps 23:1-3, NASB)

After David, confronting the kings of Judah and Israel, the Old Testament prophets spoke against bad shepherds (Jer 23:1; 50:6), the consequences of no shepherd (Zech 10:2-3) and of God's future response to His people needing a shepherd (Ezek 34:1-31). One of Ezekiel's oracles clearly indicates what God desired with His shepherd:

They will no longer defile themselves with their idols, or with their detestable things, or with any of their transgressions; but I will deliver them from all their dwelling places in which they have sinned, and will cleanse them. And they will be My people, and I will be their God. My servant David will be king over them, and they will all have one shepherd; and they will walk in My ordinances and keep My statutes and observe them. (Ezek 37:23-24, NASB)

Aside from atonement, carefully observe God's intended role for His Son Jesus Christ. From God's perspective, what is the qualification and role of a shepherd?

4) And gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he was inquiring of them where the Christ was to be born. 5) And they said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for this is what has been written by the prophet:
6) 'And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah,
Are by no means least among the leaders of Judah;
For out of you shall come forth a Leader
Who will shepherd My people Israel.'" (Matt 2:4-6, LSB)

31) "But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. 32) And all the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; 33) and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left.
34) "Then the King will say to those on His right, 'Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom, which has been prepared for you from the foundation of the world. (Matt 25:31-34, LSB)

1) "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbs up some other way, he is a thief and a robber. 2) But he who enters by the door is a shepherd of the sheep. 3) To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4) When he brings all his own out, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5) A stranger they will never follow, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers." 6) This figure of speech Jesus spoke to them, but they did not understand what those things were which He had been saying to them.
7) So Jesus said to them again, "Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8) All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. 9) I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 10) The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
11) "I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. (Luke 10:1-11, LSB)

15) So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Tend My lambs." 16) He said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Shepherd My sheep." 17) He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me?" Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?" And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You." Jesus said to him, "Tend My sheep." (John 21:15-17, LSB)

28) Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. 29) I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30) and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. (Acts 20:28-30, LSB)

1) Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, 2) shepherd the flock of God among you, overseeing not under compulsion, but willingly, according to God; and not for dishonest gain, but with eagerness; 3) nor yet as lording it over those allotted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4) And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. 5) You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble. (1 Pet 5:1-5, LSB)