The Donkey

A Sermon by Dr. Neil Chadwick


How would it feel to you if you were told that you reminded someone of an animal, particularly a not so desirable animal, say, a donkey? That's actually what happened to a little known man in the Bible. He was a son of Jacob, his name was Issachar. The name actually means, "he will bring a reward", but his father, when blessing his sons, said, "Issachar is a rawboned donkey lying down between two saddlebags. When he sees how good is his resting place and how pleasant is his land, he will bend his shoulder to the burden and submit to forced labor." (NIV) "Issachar is a strong ass couching down between two burdens: And he saw that rest was good, and the land that it was pleasant; and bowed his shoulder to bear, and became a servant unto tribute." (KJV) (Genesis 49:14, 15)

It's always been interesting to me that we often assign various human characteristics to different animals. Some animals come out looking good, others get a bad rap.

  • When we don't like someone we might call them a "rat", and when life gets very hectic, we call it a "rat" race. Most of the time, the "rats" are winning.
  • When someone is busy they're as busy as a "bee."
  • The "fox" is sly, the "snake" is deceptive, and the "owl" is wise.
  • Often we hear about "puppy" love, mother "hens", and "bear" hugs; but we live in a "dog-eat-dog" world.
  • When you "ape" someone, you're copying them in a mocking way, perhaps while "monkeying" around.
  • Everyone knows that the "goose" is silly, and an oversized person is as big as a "whale."
  • To be like a "cat" is to be catty - that's bad; but we like things which are soft as a "kitten."
  • When someone is as hungry as a "bear", they will probably "wolf" down their food, or perhaps even "pig" out.
  • Lawyers after insurance money are called "vultures."
  • If you're quick, you're like a "bunny"; if you're not, you're slow as a "turtle."
  • We all know that "bulls" are clumsy, so we would never take one into the china closet.
  • If you're quiet, you're like a "mouse"; if you're stubborn, you're a "mule"; if you're strong, you're like an "ox".
  • The "eagle" reminds us of majesty, "elephants" never forget.
  • Some people are as happy as a "lark"; if they sing like a "canary", that's good, but to sing like a "crow", that's bad.

But today we're talking about the "donkey" which, as everyone knows, is dumb. And we won't even use the King James name for "donkey", that's really a derogatory name. ( I once pulled into a church parking lot which was filled with busses and vans representing churches from all over the state. One full sized school bus caught my attention. It had the name of the church printed on the rear door. I don't remember the name of the church, but I'll never forget my dismay when I realized what had been done to fit the name "Assembly of God" on the door. The first word was abbreviated down to only three letters.)

However, in the Bible, it seems that the "donkey" was actually a very special animal - evidently Issachar didn't become offended when his father, in his deathbed speech, likened him to one.

    In fact, according to Isaiah 1:3, the "donkey" was smarter than Israel - "the donkey [knows]his owner's manger" but the people don't know their Lord.

    One of the great stories in the Bible is when a donkey was used by God to speak to the prophet Balaam. (Numbers 22:21-34)

    Just one "donkey" bone was used by Samson as a weapon, by which he destroyed 1,000 enemy soldiers. (Judges 15:15, 16) I have a friend who often has been heard to say, "If God can use the donkey's jaw bone, surely He can use mine too."

Laws were instituted by Moses to give special consideration to the "donkey."

    It may surprise you to find out that, just like humans, "donkeys" were to be redeemed by the sacrifice of a lamb. "Redeem with a lamb every firstborn donkey, but if you do not redeem it, break its neck. Redeem every firstborn among your sons." (Exodus 13:13)

    "Donkeys" are right up there with other valuable possessions not to be the object of covetousness.

    "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbor's." (Exodus 20:17)

    "Donkeys" were also covered by the Sabbath law.

    "Six days do your work, but on the seventh day do not work, so that your ox and your donkey may rest and the slave born in your household, and the alien as well, may be refreshed." (Exodus 23:12)

    "Donkeys" were to be looked after by neighbors. (Exodus 21:33; Exodus 23:4,5) Jesus even makes mention of this when answering the critics who accused Him of breaking the law by healing a woman on the Sabbath: "You hypocrites! Doesn't each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water? Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?" ( Luke 13:15, 16)

Notice also that some of the great events of the Bible, took place in the presence of a "donkey":

    The "donkey" was there when Abraham prepared to sacrifice his son Isaac. (Genesis 22:3)

    The "donkey" was part of the pilgrimage made by the brothers of Joseph to request food from Egypt. (Genesis 42:27)

    A "donkey" was with Moses and his small family during their trip back to Egypt to deliver the people from bondage. (Exodus 4:20)

    "Donkeys" witnessed the collapse of Jericho's walls. (Joshua 6:21)

But the greatest story of all, the one we commemorate today - Jesus rode into the city of Jerusalem on a "donkey." Why did he call for a "donkey"? He was the "King of King and Lord of Lords", didn't he deserve the best? Didn't He deserve royal treatment? Yes, but Jesus rather chose to identify with the common person. Horses may be for those who take pride in their positions, Jesus, if anything, took pride in being a servant.

    Matthew 21:1-5 - "As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, 'Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, tell him that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.' This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet (Zechariah 9:9): 'Say to the Daughter of Zion, `See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.'"

The lowly donkey had the greatest privilege of all - to bear on his back the Son of God. Why was the donkey so honored? Of course, because he was available, but also because the donkey was a picture of humility, and the willingness to perform hard work.

No, Issachar wasn't embarrassed when his father Jacob likened him and his descendants to "donkeys". They would be distinguished for their ability and readiness to work hard, even under the undesirable conditions of being under oppression - they would be known for their quiet, patient, and industrious habits - fit for, and inclined to labor.

Oh yes, if the load became too heavy, with sacks weighing him down on both sides, the donkey would have sense enough to sit down, and refuse to go on. That too is a lesson for us to learn. But most important of all, when we see Jesus coming into the city, and praise Him as the King, let us also think kindly toward the "donkey" he rode upon, and seek to be as ready to serve, and work hard for our Master, even while under the oppression that this world often lays on us.

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