Donkey-Jacking - Part 2

In my last blog, I introduced you to the only scriptural reference I know of for “donkey-jacking.” All of us have our own donkeys – things that are precious to us that we are reticent to let God use. I suggested several, you probably thought of more.

If we think about it, we can glean a few lessons from this donkey-jacking episode. First, anything good we have is a gift from God. The man who owned the donkey may have bought it or even bred it, but the fact remains the man didn’t create it. Somehow, some way, he acquired the donkey and could take no credit for its existence. In the same way, whatever we have that is good did not come about by our own effort or ingenuity . . . we acquired it.

Every generous act and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights; with Him there is no variation or shadow cast by turning. – James 1:17

Second, God gets His greatest glory when He uses the most common of things. That Jesus would ride in His coronation parade on a borrowed donkey was prophesied hundreds of years earlier (Zechariah 9:9). But just as easily He could have planned for Jesus to ride something more prestigious – after all, when He comes the next time He will be riding on a majestic white stallion. But God uses humble things to direct even more glory to Himself. God is not looking for the most talented, smartest, or most spectacular; instead, He is looking for the most available. Christ takes what is ordinary in our lives and uses it in extraordinary ways.

But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. – 1 Corinthians 1:27-29

Finally, God gives us the opportunity to enjoy the blessing of obedience. Jesus could have created a donkey for His use, right there on the spot, had He so desired. Instead, He worked through the life of another person who already had a donkey. I am sure the man’s donkey was a fine animal, but until He became Christ’s Cadillac, he was just another donkey. But yielded to Jesus’ use, the donkey had the privilege of doing something far beyond the daily grind which was otherwise his destiny. We are able to experience far greater things in God’s hands than we ever could on our own.

I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. – John 15:5

So go ahead and turn loose of your donkey. The Lord has need of you. Trust me; you can accomplish much more in God’s hands than in your own. Indeed, “little is much when God is in it!”