Go! And Follow The Shepherd Who Carries You - Isaiah 40:11 Series

Go! And Follow the Shepherd Who Carries You

Isaiah 40:11 (NLT): “He will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will carry the lambs in his arms, holding them close to his heart. He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young.”

Introduction – The Shepherd We All Need

There is something deeply moving about Isaiah 40:11. It paints a picture of the Lord not as a distant ruler, not as a harsh master, but as a tender, loving Shepherd. And this Shepherd is no ordinary man—this is the eternal God, revealed to us fully in Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd.

When life feels overwhelming, when our sins weigh heavy, when we stumble under the pressures of this world, Isaiah reminds us: the Shepherd of our souls feeds us, carries us, and leads us.

The call of today’s message is simple yet profound: Go! And Follow the Shepherd Who Carries You. Because unless you are carried by Him, you will fall. Unless you are fed by Him, you will starve. Unless you are led by Him, you will wander into destruction.

Let’s unpack this together.

Point 1 – The Shepherd Who Feeds His Flock

Isaiah begins: “He will feed his flock like a shepherd.”

The Hebrew word used here for “feed” is ra‘ah, which carries the meaning of tending, nourishing, and caring for. A shepherd does not just throw food before his flock—he ensures they eat, grow strong, and are sustained.

John 6:35 (NLT): “Jesus replied, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.’”

Jesus is not only the Shepherd—He is the very bread that feeds the sheep. He nourishes our souls with His Word and with His presence.

In ancient Israel, shepherds were often young, overlooked, and despised, yet they had the vital responsibility of ensuring the survival of the flock. To “feed the flock” meant leading them to safe pastures, protecting them from poisonous plants, and defending them from wolves. In the same way, Christ leads us to truth and protects us from lies.

We live in an age of spiritual junk food—self-help philosophies, shallow entertainment, and false gospels. But only Christ truly satisfies. Friend, if your soul feels empty, it is because you need the nourishment only Jesus gives.

Max Lucado once wrote: “If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent an educator. If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent a scientist. If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent an economist. But since our greatest need was forgiveness, God sent a Saviour.”

Yes, our souls need more than bread and water. They need Jesus.

Point 2 – The Shepherd Who Carries the Weak

Isaiah continues: “He will carry the lambs in his arms, holding them close to his heart.”

The Hebrew for “carry” is nasa’, meaning to lift up, bear, or even to forgive. This is the same word often used for “carrying away sins.” The Shepherd not only carries the lamb physically, but symbolically, He carries away the guilt and burden of sin.

Matthew 11:28–30 (NLT): “Then Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest… For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.’”

A shepherd often carried a lamb when it was too weak, too small, or too injured to keep up with the flock. Without the shepherd’s strength, the lamb would perish. In the same way, we cannot save ourselves. We must be carried by Christ.

Maybe today you feel too weak to go on. Too broken. Too sinful. Too far gone. The Shepherd does not say, “Get strong enough, and then I will carry you.” He says, “Come as you are. I will lift you and hold you close.”

Charles Stanley once said: “Our heavenly Father understands our weakness and our struggles; and He will never give up on us. He will never stop helping us.”

And isn’t that exactly what Isaiah shows? The Shepherd doesn’t just tolerate us—He carries us close to His heart.

A missionary once shared the story of a boy who carried his injured brother for miles. When someone asked if the brother was too heavy, the boy replied: “He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother.” Friend, to Jesus, you are never too heavy to carry.

Point 3 – The Shepherd Who Leads with Gentleness

Isaiah concludes: “He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young.”

The Hebrew word for “lead” is nahal, which means to guide, to bring to a restful place. Notice the Shepherd is not harsh or forceful. He leads with gentleness, aware of the weakest among the flock.

John 10:11 (NLT): “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep.”