This is a chapter from the book The Character of Creatures: What the Animal Kingdom Teaches Us About God and His Word.
Be Teachable – The Donkey
Are you stronger than a donkey? It is almost funny when you
see someone trying to drag a donkey where they want it to go. The donkey is
much stronger than you or I. If it does not want to go, it will not go.
The donkey is a warning to us just how bad we can be:
Do not now be stiff-necked as your
fathers were, but yield yourselves to the Lord and come to his sanctuary, which
he has consecrated forever, and serve the Lord your God, that his fierce anger
may turn away from you. ~
2 Chronicles 30:8
Discussion:
1.
The opposite of being stiff-necked is what Jesus
said, “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5).
Meek means power under control, or obedient, or—to use an equestrian term—“well-broke.”
When God or your parents ask you to do something, do you stiffen your neck or
obey?
2.
Sometimes a donkey might be hesitant to obey
because he does not trust his master. Would God ever ask you to do something
that is not for your good and his glory?
3.
A donkey cannot consider it, but being obedient
to his master’s commands will gain him better treatment, a place to live, food
to eat, and lovingkindness. A stiff-necked donkey will be mistreated and might
be sold if he does not help his master. What sorts of good things can God lead
you into and what rewards does he have planned?
Pride is the universal disease of the human heart. Pride is the very thing that makes us stiff-necked and rebellious against God's plan for salvation, thinking we can approach Him on our own terms. ~ Adrian Rogers
