Tag: donkey

Devotional: All God’s Creatures (Genesis 1:30)

On By Janine TuggleIn Animals, Devotional, Genesis, Old Testament, Proverbs, Psalms, Theology 
“And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food” (Genesis 1:30).

We may wonder why God created all the different animals. We read in Genesis 1 that God created the sea creatures and the birds that fly in the air on the fifth day. On the sixth day, He created every living creature that “creeps” on the ground.

Every animal shows God’s glory and is a glory to God. He gave man instructions and responsibility to have dominion over all creeping things on the earth. This does not mean ownership; it is about stewardship. Man is to take care of the animals.

According to one source, over 120 animal species are mentioned in the Bible. Animals show God’s creativity. There are many large and many small. Some are beautiful and some are strange; some have many legs. Some have none.

Animals have been used as a teaching tool, for example:

“Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest” (Proverbs 6:6–8).

Animals have been used to accomplish God’s will. He used animals with the 10 plagues. He used a great fish when Jonah was swallowed by it. God caused a donkey to speak so Balaam would obey Him. He sent quail to provide food for the Israelites and ravens to bring bread and meat to Elijah.

These are just a few examples of what we can read and learn from animals. In the next few weeks, we will learn more interesting tidbits and lessons from animals mentioned in the Bible.

“Praise the LORD from the earth, you great sea creatures and all deeps. . . . Beasts and all livestock, creeping things and flying birds!” (Psalm 148:7, 10).

Hymn: “All Things Bright and Beautiful“

Devotional: The Beast of Burden (Zechariah 9:9)

On By Janine TuggleIn Devotional, Old Testament, the prophets, Zechariah 
“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”