When was the last time you saw a donkey? It’s been a while since I saw one but as a child, donkeys were everywhere. They were often used by farmers in the countryside to carry carts loaded with produce. Being a city dweller at that time, for me, seeing a donkey was quite the novelty.
In biblical times, donkeys were not uncommon. As a matter of fact, donkeys are mentioned in many Scripture readings in both the Old and New Testaments.
In Genesis 22:3, Abraham “saddled his donkey” early in the
morning in preparation to make his way to sacrifice Isaac.
Seeking to “find grace and kindness” in Esau’s
sight, Jacob sent a message to his brother listing all his possessions of value
which included donkeys in Genesis 32:5
During the famine, when Jacob sent his sons to Egypt to buy
grain, those same sons who had sold their brother Joseph into slavery, “Joseph
gave orders to fill their bags with grain, to put back each man’s silver into
his own sack, and to give them provisions for their trip, and it was done. They
loaded their grain onto their donkeys, and they set out.” – Genesis 42:25-26
(CEB)
In Exodus 4:20 we read, “So Moses took his
wife and his children, put them on a donkey, and went back to the land of
Egypt.” (CEB)
Once a fundamental part of the economy, donkeys were a sign
of wealth. A donkey loaded up with “two hundred loaves of bread, two
jugs of wine, five sheep already prepared [for roasting], five measures of
roasted grain, a hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs” was
used by Abigail to appease David’s anger against her husband Nabal as recorded
in1 Samuel 25.
God talks of the wild donkey when He challenged Job’s
understanding in Job 39:5-8.
So yes, donkeys are mentioned several times in the bible, as
burden carriers, as a common mode of transportation, as a measurement of wealth
and much more. Surely, in that regard, they were an important asset but within
the pages of Scripture, we find certain donkeys that hold a pride of place in
God’s plan; donkeys playing a significant role in fulfilling God’s specific purpose.
“Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion. Sing aloud, Daughter
Jerusalem. Look, your king will come to you. He is righteous and victorious. He
is humble and riding on an ass, on a colt, the offspring of a donkey.” – Zechariah
9:9
Zecharia’s prophecy was fulfilled in Jesus’ triumphal entry
into Jerusalem riding on a donkey (read Matthew 21:1-11). “Hosanna to the
Son of David! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in
the highest!” Clearly that donkey was a befitting choice for such an important
procession.
Numbers 22:21-39 tells of an amazing event where God gave a
donkey, albeit temporary, the ability to first see into the supernatural realm
and then to speak! Yes, God used this Angel-of-the-Lord-seeing-donkey to rebuke
its owner, Balaam.
Beloved, all this is to say that if God can use a donkey, He
can certainly use you.
Please do not count yourself out. Don’t feel that your past
or present circumstances are a hindrance to your usefulness to God.
God transforms us into vessels for honourable use.
If God can use a donkey, He can certainly use you. Don’t
figure that you’re too young or too old to be used by God.
Donkeys should never be seen as insignificant as they were
created to carry the weight of what’s required.
Let me remind you that you were created for purpose! God can empower you to operate in the supernatural just as He did with Balaam’s donkey.
If God can use a donkey, He can certainly use you!
Amen †
Shelley Johnson “If God can use a Donkey” © 2025 June 25,
2025
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