By Sandra Steeves
1. God gives His people warnings in 1 Samuel 8:16 about the things a king will take from them. The king would take their crops, their sons, their daughters, their-DONKEYS? Odd. Specifically-donkeys. Not camels, cows, goats, nor sheep. Donkeys! Why donkeys? Consider the following. The lowly donkey meant the family had transportation. It was the means by which crops were moved from field to home and home to market. The lowly donkey was critical in the survival of a home.
2. So. We have just discussed how asking for a king would result in things being taken from them, including their donkeys. But have you thought about the fact that it was donkeys that brought Israel their first king? Saul was out chasing donkeys and the lost donkeys were used to bring him to God’s prophet for anointing. Samuel 9:3-20. The king would take donkeys but it was a donkey that brought the first king.
3. A donkey sees and reacts to the Angel of God. Numbers 22:22-35. (Now this being is of the God Head as He accepts worship from Balaam.) Three times this donkey reacts to the presence of the Angel of the Lord, trying to communicate the danger to her rider. Remember this pagan prophet regularly communicates with his gods using animal parts-according to studies of ancient religions. Yet, here, Balaam is blind to the true God and the animal is the one aware of and in communication with God.
In fulfillment of Zechariah 9:9, Jesus chooses a Donkey and her colt for His entry into Jerusalem. From delivering the first king to Israel, a donkey is chosen to deliver the King to the World. The humble donkey was the mount of princes-Judges 5:10, 10:4 and of kings-2 Samuel 16:1,2.
5. Isaiah 1:3
The donkey is used in judgement on Israel. The writer states that even the donkey knows-acknowledges his master, while Israel does not acknowledge or accept God as master.