Numbers 22

Dumb Yet Speaking

The ass [donkey] saw the angel of the Lord. Numbers 22:25.

Today I want to speak to you about an animal that is often mentioned in the Bible. You know it very well. It is a great friend of yours especially if you meet it at the seaside. Can you guess? A donkey, of course! What can be more fun than a donkey ride on the beach?

Now you will notice that the Bible always calls a “donkey” an “ass.” Why? Because the word “donkey” was not used in the days when what we call the Authorized Version of the Bible was written. That Version was written in 1611, and it was not till the middle of the eighteenth century nearly a hundred and fifty years later that the word “donkey” came into use. “Donkey” was at first a half-slang term. You have heard of the word “dun,” which means a dark dull-brown shade. Well, people added a double diminutive to “dun.” They spoke of a “dun-ik-ie,” meaning a little dull-brown creature, just as they still speak in Scotland of a “horseikie,” or a “beastikie.” But the nickname has become a greater favorite than the real name, and now we more often say “donkey” than “ass”. In our language today, “ass” has become a crude name for “buttocks” and as a Christian, you should never use it that way.

The donkey of the Bible was a very different beast from the poor, patient, weather-beaten little animal that we usually see yoked to a small cart and being beaten to make it go. We do not get the best donkeys in this country. The climate and the hardships they have to endure stunt them. We have to go to the East to see a donkey as it should be. There, especially in a wild state, it is fleet and strong and proud, and almost as large as a horse.

In countries where men have to travel much in the mountains they would be badly off without the donkey and its near relation the mule, which is a mixture of a donkey and a horse. These two animals are so surefooted that they can climb like goats up the rocky mountain tracks. The merchant of the Bible used donkeys to carry his bales of goods; the farmer of the Bible used donkeys as well as oxen to plough his fields; the traveler of the Bible used donkeys for riding. Donkeys were as precious and as much thought of in Palestine as are our horses in this land today.

In those olden days too, the donkey was counted a wise beast; it was credited with cleverness rather than stupidity. Nowadays when some stupid person is spoken of, we hear him called a donkey a donkey and a person who is stupid have come to mean the same thing. But donkeys are still gifted with more wisdom than most people believe they possess. Many of you have heard how men are sometimes deceived by the mirage of the desert. Well, travelers tell us that the donkey never makes that mistake.

When you boys and girls speak of clever animals, you generally think of dogs. I have heard a boy boast that his dog could speak. Haven't you all seen a terrier, when his master was leaving the house, look up with eyes that said, “May I go too?” When you thrash your dog, you know that he looks sad and reproachful. His eyes say, “Master, I know you must be right in being angry with me, but I did not really mean to do what was wrong.” You know your dog can tell you what he feels.

Now Balaam's donkey saw what Balaam could not see, and it tried to tell Balaam what it felt. It did not know that Balaam was doing wrong and disobeying God, but it saw the Angel of the Lord with the drawn sword barring the way, and it would not go on. Twice it tried to turn aside, and twice Balaam thrashed it and forced it on. The third time it fell to the ground and Balaam thrashed it worse than ever. Then God allowed the donkey to speak not with its eyes merely, but with a voice and the wise creature said to its master, “Did you ever see me act like this before?” As much as to say, “Do you not understand that there is a reason for my not going on?” And then Balaam's eyes were opened too, and he saw the Angel standing in the way, and he bowed his head and fell on his face for shame.

Boys and girls, the dumb creatures often put us to shame too. They are often wiser than we are. God has gifted them with such marvelous instincts. They do not actually speak to us as Balaam's donkey spoke to him. But when we treat them badly they look at us, and surely that look is enough. God has honored these animals with His gifts. Shall we abuse what He honors and what He entrusts to our protection? For, as someone has said, “To the animals man is as a little god. He giveth them their meat in due season” And if God has honored the animals has He not honored the donkey above all animals. It was on a donkey that Christ, the Son of God Himself, rode into Jerusalem. You must not think that was to show He was humble. It was to show that He came as a prince of peace. Any ruler or prince engaged on a peaceful journey would have done the same.

A clever writer of the present day has written a book of short poems. There is one called “The Donkey.” In it the poet makes the donkey speak and recall the New Testament story. Here are two verses of the little poem.

The tattered outlaw of the earth,

Of ancient crooked will;

Starve, scourge, deride me; I am dumb,

I keep my secret still.

listen to this last verse

Fools! For I also had my hour;

One far fierce hour and sweet:

There was a shout about my ears,

And palms before my feet.

Boys and girls, in this world there is no room for mockery, there is no room for cruelty. And surely even the “tattered outlaw,” if Jesus has touched it, deserves a certain reverence from us. All animals were worthwhile for God to make and we should treat them nicely.

The children of Jerusalem ran alongside crying, “Hosanna! Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord!” He loves to hear you sing your hymns now, and if He still cares for the sparrows and we believe He does surely He wants you to be kind to the animals, even when they are obstinate. Though it be, as the poet says, but a “tattered outlaw,” that beautiful New Testament story belongs to its family history.