Stubborn as a Donkey!

I was reading my Bible this morning and a phrase kept popping out at me. It was in the book of Judges;

And he had thirty sons that rode on thirty ass colts, and they had thirty cities, which are called Havothjair unto this day, which are in the land of Gilead. [Judges 10:4 NJV]

And he had forty sons and thirty nephews, that rode on threescore and ten ass colts: and he judged Israel eight years. [Judges 12:14 NJV]

I was thinking why would it mention this? What is so great about a donkey?

Well I did a little research on it and this is what I came up with! In Genesis the King of Shechem (the modern Nablus), killed by Jacob's sons, is called "Hamor" - showing that at the time this animal was held in high enough esteem that it was no disrespect for royalty to use its name as their first name.

So I was like, "OK" never realized this, donkeys were considered good enough to describe royalty. Here is some more about donkeys in the book of Judges...

And he found a new jawbone of an ass, and put forth his hand, and took it, and slew a thousand men therewith.And Samson said, With the jawbone of an ass, heaps upon heaps, with the jaw of an ass have I slain a thousand men. [Judges 15:15-16 KJV]

Samson was captured by one thousand Philistines which he slayed with a donkey's jawbone!

There's more...

Donkeys, proverbially stupid, obstinate, and over-sexed, were despised, yet the cross on their backs was a holy marking, since Jesus rode a donkey. Nineteenth-century sources credit them with healing powers; children suffering from whooping cough, measles, fevers, or rickets were passed three or nine times over and under a donkey, or made to wear or swallow hairs from this mark (Opie and Tatem, 1989: 122-3).

How about that...donkeys were said to have healing powers...That's pretty interesting! Never heard this before...

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass. [Zechariah 9:9 NJV]

Here is the prophecy of Zechariah coming to pass that predicted that Jesus, the Lamb of God, would come riding a donkey into Jerusalem! This was written in 520-518 BC this is roughly 500 years before Christ was born!

I knew Jesus triumphantly rode on a donkey in to Jerusalem as it is written,

And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them, And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon.And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way.And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest!And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this?And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee. [Matthew 21:6-11 KJV]

You see that folks! Of all the animals in the world look how great the donkey is to God's kingdom. Now just think, how important you are...if the donkey, a dumb and stubborn animal was this important to God. I will close this post with God's word

Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. [Matthew 10:26-36 KJV]

Blessings to you and yours!