“The Donkey”

Genesis 49 One son got quite a blessing, 49 v. 14 ? Issachar is a strong ass couching between two burdens. As a child when someone said I was a donkey, I was upset and offended, but in the meantime I have changed my mind and I think it is rather a compliment.

I have been studying a little bit about donkeys and after special meetings a visiting brother worker said something about donkeys. He said that in South America they saddle the donkeys when they have to go up high mountains and they have these heavy loads on their backs and he said that the donkey is not stubborn or dumb. If the burden is not balanced correctly on his back, the donkey will not take one step forward. He knows when he goes around a little bend or a corner and if the load is not balanced on his back it is so easy for the donkey to fall down the cliff.

It is wonderful to be balanced in God's way. Balance in everything, balance between families and God, balance between learning and God, balance between hobbies and God, balance in everything. I have found it not so easy to be balanced and to keep the right balance in everything is so very important. And the donkey knows if he is not balanced correctly he cannot go forward.

When the load is attached to him and as he walks and if it becomes a little loose and soon as the load becomes loose the donkey stands still. And he waits until the master tightens it again. And he knows if the burden is not tight he could fall. Because he has a precious burden. He does not want to lose the burden or his own life. The donkey is not stubborn.

In Pakistan I saw many donkeys and the master had a cart and the donkey was pulling the cart. On the cart he either had vegetables, clothes or food. The master went to the market and the donkey would remain there all day with his cart. He was just very patient, he just waited until the master had finished his business. They are very wonderful qualities. He knows how to wait, so he is patient. He knows to be balanced.

When a donkey is walking and there is something unexpected before him an obstacle or something on the path, the donkey stops walking. He waits until the master speaks to him and the master tell him where to take the next step. This is a wonderful quality.

We read in Matthew 21 v. 5? Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold thy King cometh unto thee, meek and sitting upon and ass and the colt the foal of an ass? Wouldn't it be good if we could carry the King on our back. Who do we carry on our back? Who is our master? Where does he lead us to? It was just a little donkey and he had the King on his back.

We read in Numbers 22 and there is another story about a donkey. Balak sent his messenger is to Balaam that he should curse God's people. Balaam spoke to God and God said, “Do not go”. Then this King sent more people to Balaam and he offered him more silver and gold. First of all when God speaks to us, God does not change His mind. What He says to us today He will say tomorrow. Balaam kind of pushed God and God finally said “You go but you say what I tell you”.

On the way Balaam was riding on a donkey and there was the Angel of God with a sword. The donkey saw the Angel with the sword and he went from one side to the other to escape the sword. And that happened a second time. Balaam did not see it and did not understand it and he thought he had a stubborn donkey and he hit the donkey each time. The third time the the Angel met the donkey where he couldn't not go either left or right and the donkey fell down under Balaam. The donkey was faithful to his master he wanted to save his master, he was willing to step aside to save the master, he was willing to humble himself to save his master, a wonderful quality from the donkey. How much do we protect our master? How much of the Lord do we have in our load or our lives? There is no greater privilege then to have the King of Kings on our back.

In Exodus 13 v. 13 “And every firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem wit a lamb; and if thou wilt not redeem it, then thou shalt break his neck, and all the firstborn of man among thy children shalt thou redeem.” Redeem a lamb for the donkey. If the master was not willing to redeem a lamb for the donkey, the donkey must die. We sing a hymn “Christ has redeemed me by his blood.”

I have one longing to have the qualities of the donkey. To be willing to bear the burden of the kingdom.

To be balanced in everything I do. To be willing to just wait until the Master tells me where the next step will be. To have patience. To bring the King to other people. And when I do not know where to go, just wait until God speaks. Jesus gave His blood for us that we could be free. Hope we can all bring something to others. That we are prepared to protect the King of Kings in all situations.

E. Wulser