Bible Animals Donkey Stories

After a tremendous display of God's power, the children of Israel made their way towards the promised land. As you imagine, many kings in the area were rightly scared of this huge nation and more importantly, they had heard what God had done in Egypt.

One such king was Balak, the leader of Moab. He sent his servants to bribe a prophet named Balaam to come and curse Israel. Balaam inquired of God who told him, "You are not to curse these people for I have blessed them." (Numbers 22:1-20)

That should have ended Balaam's story, but unfortunately another group of servants came again and Balaam agreed to travel to Moab. He saddled his donkey and left for Moab. On the way, the Angel of the Lord stood in his path with a drawn sword. Balaam's donkey saw the angel, but Balaam did not. The donkey veered off the path to avoid the angel and Balaam beat the donkey. The angel stood in its path between two walls and the donkey turned into the wall and Balaam beat him again. And finally, the angel stood in a place where the donkey could not avoid him. This time the donkey simply lay down. This infuriated Balaam who beat the donkey again.

Then something wonderful took place. God allowed the donkey to speak. He said, 'What have I done to deserve this? Have I ever done something like this before?" Balaam replied that if he "had a sword with him, I would kill you!"

God opened Balaam's eyes and he could see the angel with the drawn sword. "Why did you beat this donkey three times? If your donkey had not turned away these three times I would have killed you and spared the donkey." Ironically Balaam's rage towards his donkey's stubborn behavior nearly cost him his own life. He was wanting to kill his donkey for refusing to obey and almost brought that same judgement on himself. Mercifully, God allowed his donkey to reveal the truth of what was really happening. (Numbers 22:21-41)

Balaam repented of his stubborn behavior and asked if he should return home. But the angel told him to proceed, but only say the words that God gives him. Three times Balak asked Balaam to curse Israel and each time Balaam pronounced a blessing on them as God commanded him. Among the three blessings were these powerful promises. (Numbers 23-24)

How can I curse those whom God has not cursed?
How can I condemn those whom the Lord has not condemned?

God is not a man that he should lie.
He is not human that he should change his mind.
Has he ever spoken and failed to act?
Has he ever promised and not carried it through?

Blessed is everyone that blesses you, O Israel,
and cursed is everyone who curses you.

After the time of judges, Israel wanted a king. The prophet Samuel was grieved by this, but God told him that they had not rejected him, but had actually rejected God. Israel was supposed to be a special nation, an example to the world with God as their King. God knew that kings would cause all sorts of problems for the people including, taking their children, lands, animals and servants for their own use. Even after hearing all the bad things that would happen under a king, the people still insisted. God reluctantly told Samuel to anoint a king. (1 Samuel 8)

There was a man from the tribe of Benjamin named Kish who had a son named Saul. Several donkeys owned by Kish wandered off so he sent Saul and a servant to go find them. After three days, they had still not found the lost donkeys. They decided to go inquire of Samuel as to the location of the donkeys. Before they reached the prophet, God told Samuel, "Tomorrow I will send you a man from Benjamin who will be a leader for my people." The next day Samuel saw Saul approaching, God confirmed that this was the new king of Israel. Samuel told him that the donkeys had been found and then he anointed Saul and told him exactly what to do and what would happen on his way home. As long as Saul was obedient to God, he was a successful king. (1 Samuel 9, 10)

The religious leaders had created many rules and traditions that were burdens. Instead of drawing people closer to God, they would do just the opposite. But this gave the religious authorities a lot of power over the people and therefore they were quite threatened by Jesus who was not keeping all their traditions.

These rules may have been created with good intentions, but in practice they would negate the greater law of love. When Jesus entered a synagogue and saw a woman that satan had kept in a bent over position for 18 years, he immediately was moved by love to free her from it. He called her over and said, "Woman, you are healed!" Immediately she could stand straight and began praising God for her deliverance.

The religious leaders said that healing should be restricted to just six days a week. But Jesus countered by pointing out their own hypocrisy. They would water their donkeys and oxen on the Sabbath, but refuse help to God's children. (Luke 13:10-17)

Religious bondage will weaken the freedom Jesus won for you. Your relationship with God is not secured by the traditions you keep. It is secured by your faith in what Jesus has done for you. When you believe righteousness is a gift and receive it with thanksgiving, you will be free of all comdemnation, even the religious kind.

Remember the words of Jesus:

The Sabbath was made to help man, man was not made to help the Sabbath. (My paraphrase of Mark 2:27) and (answering to charges that he is breaking the Sabbath traditions) "My Father never stops working, So why should I?" (John 5:17 NLT)

One day Jesus was confronted by a religious lawyer who asked what was the most important law. Jesus turned the question back on him and asked him to answer. The lawyer replied, "To love the Lord your God with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself."

Jesus confirmed that this was the most important law. But the lawyer wanted to justify his own actions so he asked who was his neighbor. In response, Jesus told a parable about a man we call the Good Samaritan.

The story starts with a man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho. He was attacked by bandits and left half dead. By chance a Jewish priest came by, but instead of helping, he simply passed by on the other side of the road. Next, came a Temple assistant, who looked at the man, but walked on by on the opposite side of the road.

And then a despised Samaritan came down the path. He had compassion on the man and bandaged his wounds. He obviously was a man of some means because he put the wounded man on his donkey and carried him to an inn where he cared for him. The next day, he gave the innkeeper two pieces of silver to care for the man until he could return. And if there were any additional expenses, the Samaritan promised that he would cover them when he returned.

When Jesus finished the parable he asked the lawyer, "Which of these three was a neighbor to the wounded man?" The lawyer replied that it was the one who was merciful. Jesus told him, "Go and do the same." (Luke 10:17-37)

You learn two important things from this parable. First, love is action, not just words. And second, you see the entire plan of redemption unfold within the story. Mankind after the fall was half dead, being spiritually cut off from God and subject to the abuse of the enemy. The law and sacrifices (represented by the priest and assistant) could not do what Jesus did. He came to heal you and carry your burden once and for all. He provided everything the Church needs until he returns. But until then, you must follow the path of the Good Samaritan and demonstrate God's love to a wounded and spiritually dead world. And you can't do that on your own. Only if you have the love of Christ in your heart can you truly love others the way God loves you!

Some Reading Suggestions For The Good Samaritan:
The Good Samaritan - A paraphrase and modern version of the Good Samaritan story

For additional Good Samaritan resources

500 years before the birth of Jesus, the prophet Zechariah spoke of the coming Messiah, giving the Jewish people a clue so they would recognize their king. (Zechariah 9:9)

On what Christians now celebrate as Palm Sunday, Jesus fulfilled this prophecy. All four Gospels record the story of the triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Jesus instructed his disciples to retrieve a donkey. When the owner questioned them, they were to tell him that "The Lord needs it." And sure enough the owner of the donkey let them take it away.

Jesus rode the donkey into Jerusalem which was lined with people throwing their coats and palm branches in front of Jesus to celebrate the arrival of their king. They shouted, "Praise God! Bless the one who comes in the name of the Lord!" And also, "Hail to the king of Israel!"

The religious leaders were very upset with his reception. They were jealous of Jesus and feared the loss of their power by the people turning to him. They even tried to get Jesus to silence the people, but Jesus responded that even if the crowd were silent, the stones would cry out in praise.

The week would start with all of Jerusalem praising Jesus as their king. Towards the end of the week, many would be demanding his death. Most thought Jesus was coming to be an earthly king that would rid them of the Roman occupation. They did not understand that Jesus was opening the door to a spiritual kingdom that would never end.

By Easter morning, the victory was complete. Sin and the entire curse, from death to poverty, was soundly defeated. We can now look upon our risen king and share his victory and his righteousness forever!

Some Reading Suggestions For Palm Sunday:
Pokey, The Little Burro - A children's story and sermon on Palm Sunday.
Hanna's Parade - A story of the donkey that carried Jesus on Palm Sunday. This Palm Sunday story includes a lesson on faith and healing.

For additional Palm Sunday resources

When plowing, a donkey should not be harnessed together with what type of animal? (Deuteronomy 22:10)

When 1,000 Philistines came to capture Samson, he killed them using a bone from a donkey. What bone did he use? (Judges 15)

What was Abigail trying to stop when she loaded several donkeys with supplies to give to David and his men? (1 Samuel 25)

Absalom tried to escape David's men on his mule, but what stopped him? (2 Samuel 18:9-10)

You guide a horse with a whip, a donkey a bridle, and a fool? (Proverbs 27:3)