The Donkey

Over the years of writing Bethel at Balata, I’ve come to realize that when God wants to hammer home a lesson, He continues the topic, back-to-back. So, here I am today still "talking" about the donkey.

There’ a poem by G.K. Chesterton entitled The Donkey…

When fishes flew and forests walked
   And figs grew upon thorn,
Some moment when the moon was blood
   Then surely I was born.

 With monstrous head and sickening cry
   And ears like errant wings,
The devil’s walking parody
   On all four-footed things.

 The tattered outlaw of the earth,
   Of ancient crooked will;
Starve, scourge, deride me: I am dumb,
   I keep my secret still.

 Fools! For I also had my hour;
   One far fierce hour and sweet:
There was a shout about my ears,
   And palms before my feet.

Oftentimes we see the donkey not just as a beast of burden but as a symbol of humiliation and low status, after all we would much rather be astride a regal horse than atop a lowly donkey. But as the poet points out, the donkey had its hour on that wonderful day, which is on every Christian calendar, Palm Sunday. 

When our Lord Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, it was a symbol of His humility.

Some kings were known to ride on donkeys as a declaration of peace to another king since to approach riding a horse would have indicated that his intention was to attack. In that case, the donkey is seen as a symbol of peace.

photo courtesy O'Reilly Lewis

Unlike the majestic horse, the donkey is considered not much to look at and that is exactly how Jesus is described in Isaiah 53:2,

“He had no dignity or beauty to make us take notice of him. There was nothing attractive about him, nothing that would draw us to him.” (GNT)

Nowadays, some people see absolutely no attractiveness in Jesus or His Church. For that matter there are those who describe believers as donkeys. And just like CK Chesterton’s donkey, believers are scourged, derided and considered dumb because of Whom and what we believe.  

1 Corinthians 1:27 (ESV) reads,

“But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong”

Yes, to the worldly, we are considered foolish and weak, that’s because they think themselves wise but they simply do not understand.

“But the natural [unbelieving] man does not accept the things [the teachings and revelations] of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness [absurd and illogical] to him; and he is incapable of understanding them, because they are spiritually discerned and appreciated, [and he is unqualified to judge spiritual matters].” – 1 Corinthians 2:14 (AMP)

In Luke 13:15, responding to the Pharisees’ rebuke of healing on the Sabbath, Jesus compares mankind's sickness of sin to the bondage of beasts of burden.

The Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Any one of you would untie your ox or your donkey from the stall and take it out to give it water on the Sabbath. (GNT)

Jesus takes our burdens to deliver us from the bondage of sin and gives us life-saving water (see John 4:14; 7:37-38)

“Praise the Lord, who carries our burdens day after day; he is the God who saves us.” – Psalm 68:2 (GNT)

Beloved, Jesus Christ, like Balaam’s donkey, prevents you and me from making a terrible choice. He can loose you from “the stall” you’re in and give you the freedom that resting in Him provides – a deep spiritual rest, a higher form of rest...a Sabbath rest.

Amen †

 

Shelley Johnson “The Donkey” © 2025 June 26, 2025