The One who created the universe allowed Himself to be led around; meaning He submitted Himself to others and depended upon their guidance. What great humility was displayed in Christ’s humanity! Yet for us God promises to lead us with great care and we must consciously ask and depend upon God to lead us and be willing to follow His leading. If Christ so submitted Himself, how can we not be dependent upon God to lead us in all things?
Christ allowed Himself to be led by the Spirit.
Lk 4:1 “Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led around by the Spirit in the wilderness.”
Acts 2:22 “Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know…”
Acts 10:38 “You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good, and healing all who were oppressed by the devil; for God was with Him.”
Christ allowed Himself to be led by the devil.
Lk 4:9 “And he led Him to Jerusalem…” This was part of the leading of the Spirit.
Mt 4:1 “Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.”
Christ allowed Himself to be led by wicked men.
Lk 4:29 “They…led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city had been built, in order to throw Him down the cliff…”
Mk 14:44 “Now he who was betraying Him had given them a signal, saying, ‘Whomever I shall kiss, He is the one; seize Him, and lead Him away under guard.’”
Lk 22:54 “And having arrested Him, they led Him away, and brought Him to the house of the high priest…”
Lk 22:66 “And when it was day, the Council of elders of the people assembled, both chief priests and scribes, and they led Him away to their council chamber…”
Mt 27:2 “And they bound Him, and led Him away, and delivered Him up to Pilate the governor.”
Mt 27:31 “And after they had mocked Him, they took His robe off and put His garments on Him, and led Him away to crucify Him.” Lk 23:26 “And when they led Him away, they laid hold of one Simon of Cyrene, coming in from the country, and placed on him the cross to carry behind Jesus.”
Isa 53:7 “He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth; like a lamb that is led to slaughter, and like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, so He did not open His mouth.”
God led His Old Covenant people with great care.
Neh 9:12 “And with a pillar of cloud Thou didst lead them by day, and with a pillar of fire by night to light for them the way in which they were to go.”
Isa 48:21 “And they did not thirst when He led them through the deserts. He made the water flow out of the rock for them; He split the rock, and the water gushed forth.”
Isa 63:14 “As the cattle which go down into the valley, the Spirit of the Lord gave them rest. So didst Thou lead Thy people, to make for Thyself a glorious name.”
Psa 77:20 “Thou didst lead Thy people like a flock, by the hand of Moses and Aaron.”
Psa 78:14 “Then He led them with the cloud by day, and all the night with a light of fire.”
Psa 78:52 “But He led forth His own people like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock…”
Psa 78:53 “And He led them safely, so that they did not fear; but the sea engulfed their enemies.”
Psa 80:1 “Oh, give ear, Shepherd of Israel, Thou who dost lead Joseph like a flock; Thou who art enthroned above the cherubim, shine forth!”
Psa 136:16 “Oh, give thanks…to Him who led His people through the wilderness, for His lovingkindness is everlasting.”
(Note: God didn’t do all this just to make us wish that we could have lived back then…He did it to encourage us that He will lead us too.)
We must consciously ask and depend upon God to lead us.
Jer 31:9 “With weeping they shall come, and by supplication I will lead them; I will make them walk by streams of waters, on a straight path in which they shall not stumble.”
Psa 5:8 “O Lord, lead me in Thy righteousness because of my foes; make Thy way straight before me.”
Psa 25:5 “Lead me in Thy truth and teach me, for Thou art the God of my salvation; for Thee I wait all the day.”
Psa 27:11 “Teach me Thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a level path, because of my foes.”
Psa 43:3 “O send out Thy light and Thy truth, let them lead me; let them bring me to Thy holy hill, and to Thy dwelling places.”
Psa 143:10 “Teach me to do Thy will, For Thou art my God; let Thy good Spirit lead me on level ground.”
We must be willing to follow His leading.
Psa 32:9 “Do not be as the horse or as the mule which have no understanding, Whose trappings include bit and bridle to hold them in check, otherwise they will not come near to you.”
Jer 2:17 “Have you not done this to yourself, by your forsaking the Lord your God, when He led you in the way?”
God promises to lead us.
Isa 42:16 “And I will lead the blind by a way they do not know, in paths they do not know I will guide them. I will make darkness into light before them and rugged places into plains. These are the things I will do, and I will not leave them undone.”
Isa 49:10 “They will not hunger or thirst, neither will the scorching heat or sun strike them down; for He who has compassion on them will lead them, and will guide them to springs of water.”
Isa 55:12 “For you will go out with joy, and be led forth with peace; the mountains and the hills will break forth into shouts of joy before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.”
Isa 48:17 “Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; ‘I am the Lord your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you in the way you should go.”
Psa 31:3 “For Thou art my rock and my fortress; for Thy name’s sake Thou wilt lead me and guide me.” Eze 34:15 “‘I will feed My flock and I will lead them to rest,’ declares the Lord God.”
Isa 40:11 “Like a shepherd He will tend His flock, in His arm He will gather the lambs, and carry them in His bosom; He will gently lead the nursing ewes.” Psa 23:2 “He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters.”
Jn 10:3 “To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name, and leads them out.”
We should never forget God’s faithfulness to lead us in the past.
Dt 8:2 “You shall remember all the way which the LORD your God has led you in the wilderness these forty years…”
(The above text is from Redeeming Grace Church, and the sermon was preached at a conference they hosted.)
