God, Prophets, Jesus, and Donkeys Numbers 22-24 Zechariah 9 Matthew 21
Donkeys have a message for us humans 1. A donkey saw an angel, but its owner didn t. Numbers 22:23 2. A donkey knows who feeds it. Isaiah 1:3 3. A donkey signaled the coming of Messiah. Zech. 9:9 4. An untamed donkey recognized its Creator. Luke 19:30
The original talking donkey saved the life of its owner, Balaam; Numbers 22, 23, 24
Numbers 22 Then he (King Balak) sent messengers to Balaam 6 please come at once, curse this people (Israel) for me, for they are too mighty for me I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed. 12 And God said to Balaam, You shall not go with them; you shall not curse the people, for they are blessed. 21 Balaam, saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab
The donkey saw the Angel. Balaam did not. 22 Then God s anger was aroused because he went, and the Angel of the LORD took His stand. And he (Balaam) was riding on his donkey, 23 Now the donkey saw the Angel of the LORD standing in the way with His drawn sword in His hand, and the donkey turned aside out of the way. So Balaam struck the donkey to turn her back onto the road.
Human eyes can t see angels, unless God makes it possible 24. Then the Angel of the LORD stood in a narrow path, with a wall on this side and a wall on that side. 25 And when the donkey saw the Angel of the LORD, she pushed herself against the wall and crushed Balaam s foot against the wall; so he struck her again. 26 Then the Angel of the LORD went further, and stood in a narrow place where there was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left.
The Lord spoke to stubborn Balaam through his donkey 27 And when the donkey saw the Angel of the LORD, she lay down under Balaam; so Balaam s anger was aroused, and he struck the donkey with his staff. 28 Then the LORD opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times? (I ve saved your life three times)
Balaam must have become insanely angry to not realize he was conversing with a donkey 29 And Balaam said to the donkey, Because you have abused me I wish there were a sword in my hand, for now I would kill you! 30 So the donkey said to Balaam, Was I ever disposed to do this to you? And he said, No.
At this point, the Lord let Balaam see what the donkey had been seeing all along 31 Then the LORD opened Balaam s eyes, and he saw the Angel of the LORD standing in the way with His drawn sword in His hand; and he bowed his head and fell flat on his face.
Donkeys are known for carrying heavy loads and for being stubborn
Centuries later, God chose a donkey for His only begotten Son. No other king would ride a donkey! Zechariah 9:9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.
Palm Sunday Hosanna is Hebrew for Lord, Save, we pray (Psalm 118:25)
Hosanna to the Son of David The crowd identified Jesus as the fulfillment of God s promise to King David (2 Sam. 7:11-17) that a descendant would also be the Son of God, the ( God anointed One ) MESSIAH (Heb) CHRIST (Greek)
God s promise covers both Solomon and Christ. I have retained only the words that refer to Christ 2 Samuel 7:12 I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be his Father, and he shall be My son. 16 And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever. (a reference to Rev.20:4-6 & beyond)
Palm Sunday Matt. 21:1 Jesus reveals the omniscience of Deity, i.e. God knowledge Now when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Loose them and bring them to Me. And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, The Lord has need of them, and immediately he will send them.
All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: Tell the daughter of Zion, Behold, your King is coming to you, Lowly, and sitting on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.
This is way more than a Sunday morning donkey ride. God is shouting Messiah s arrival to tens of thousands So the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them. They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set Him on them. And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road. Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying:
Imagine hundreds, maybe thousands, of people chanting enthusiastically, Hosanna!
Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD! Hosanna in the highest! And when He had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this? So the multitudes said, This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee.
The shouting of thousands did not prevail. A handful of corrupt leaders prevailed. (Crucify!) But when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that He did, and the children crying out in the temple and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David! they were indignant and said to Him, Do You hear what these are saying? (They knew the prophecy) And Jesus said to them, Yes. Have you never read, Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have perfected praise?
the chief priests saw the children crying out in the temple and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David! and were indignant
What speaks to us from Jesus donkey ride into Jerusalem that day? 1. We can clearly see that God orchestrated the whole thing. A man dead and buried four days is raised up. Jesus possessed the power of God. All life comes from God the Son. No one could deny that dead Lazarus lived again! 2. Jesus possessed knowledge that only God could have concerning the donkey and colt, the owners willingness
3. My Savior has unlimited knowledge of me 4. My Savior has unlimited power to change anything in my life 5. My Savior has unlimited love for me He suffered and died by crucifixion to remove heaven s restraining order against me because I abused His name and His laws
Shift gears to Skit Guys mini movie 1. When in Jerusalem, Jesus stayed with friend Lazarus and his sisters, Mary and Martha. 2. A few days earlier, Lazarus had become deathly sick, but Jesus was near the Jordan River, a day s travel away. (John 11) 3. He delayed two days, and then went = four days from the time the messenger was sent. 4. When He arrived, Lazarus had been in the tomb three days. Lazarus! Come forth
5. The mini movie imagines that exhausted Lazarus had slept through the Sunday morning event, regaining strength from his deathly sickness. 6. Lazarus sister, Mary, had not awakened him, so when he finally woke up, it was all over, and he is upset. 7. Nothing in the Bible affirms this, but it helps us grab onto the reality