“Behold, your king is coming to you; . . . humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” (Zechariah 9:9b)

The donkey is an amazingly strong animal. Through centuries this animal has aided in people’s burdens. In today’s world, especially here in America, the donkey is not thought of as a special animal. It is thought of as dumb or stubborn and is used as the brunt end of jokes or name-calling.

Throughout the Bible, people rode donkeys for everyday travel. When kings rode a donkey, it was a symbol of peace. Opposed to riding a horse which was a symbol for war.

We read when Abraham took his son Isaac for an offering he took along a donkey.

“So, Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him.” (Genesis 22:3)

Saddling the donkey and cutting the wood for the burnt offering, it is probable that the donkey carried the wood and other supplies until they got to the place where Abraham gave Isaac the wood to carry.

Besides supplies, often the donkey was used to carry food. “And Jesse took a donkey laden with bread and a skin of wine and a young goat and sent them by David his son to Saul” (1 Samuel 16:20).

Then later on in the time of Jesus, He fulfills the prophecy of our text in Zechariah 9:9b showing that He is King and that He comes in peace.

It is very interesting that the donkey in the Old Testament carries the bread and wine. Also, a donkey carries Jesus, and the scriptures say, “I am the bread of life” (John 6:35).

As stated in an earlier devotional on “God’s Creatures,” all of God’s creatures were made for His glory and in His glory.

Hymn: “To God Be The Glory”

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