A Wild Donkey Of A Man
Have you ever seen a wild donkey? Have you ever tried to mount and ride one? If you have, chances are, it was nearly impossible to mount. And if you did get on its back, it was one hell of a ride. The wild donkey would buck and kick and unless you are a really skilled rider, would throw you off. But it doesn’t end there! The wild donkey may even trample…and well…you see where this is going.
But what if I told you that there are some people who “act” like wild donkeys? Really! Why? Because God made them that way! And what are some of the qualities you would expect from people who are like wild donkeys? My guess is that they would be really really strong. Also, they would find it easy to survive in the wild, the jungle, in arid reasons and places were food is scarce.
The bible tells us that when Abraham’s son Ishmael was sent away with his mother into the dessert, Abraham was very worried. But God comforted Abraham and said “do not worry, the child will be OK. I will bless him and make a GREAT nation out of him. His hand shall be against every nation and every nation’s hand shall be against his.”
With these words, God not only promised to watch over the child and his mother, and to provide food and shelter for him, but to take care of all their needs until he reaches the age to start his own family. Then God promises to multiple his offspring until they become a GREAT nation.
The Arab Nations
Most of the descendants of Ishmael settled in what is now called the Middle East, and they formed many of the nations of the Middle East. To this day, the people of the Middle East are always at war with other nations, especially nations of the west, and nations that are more powerful than them. But they are also fighting among themselves, resonating the words of the bible “his hand shall be against every nation, and every nation’s hand shall be against him“.
But why would God make Ishmael into a great nation and a “wild donkey of a man whose hand shall be against every nation?”
There are several possible theories. The bible tells us that “God does whatever pleases Him on the face of the whole earth”. And that God is a God who is “wanting to make his power known”.
Who can unravel the mystery of the deep? And who can fathom the mind of God? His ways are high above ours even as the heaven is high above the earth.
Man in his natural state finds himself on a road to destruction. Not just the descendants of Ishmael, but every man. We often get frustrated at things which we do not understand, and some people seek to “lash out” on others. From time to time, even the most inherently peaceful of people engage in wars, so you can imagine how much more warlike the descendants of Ishmael would be, given that they were endowed with warlike qualities by God, as He said “His (Ishmael’s) hand shall be against every nation, and every nation’s hand shall be against his”.
A Man You Can Never Kill
What more can you do to Him? He was arrested and dragged before courts, and while He could have called down an army of angels to destroy the perpetrators of these acts in the wink of an eye, He humbly came as a “sheep before his shearers is dumb”. Jesus came as a sheep before the slaughter and suffered and died at the hands of men. But He rose again after three days. Today, Jesus has power over all nations, all angels and all the elements of the earth. There is no enemy that could stand against Jesus. There are no forces of darkness that could prevail in His presence because He is the “light of the world”.
Because of Jesus, even a man who has inherited violent traits can be made into a new creature: a creature chiseled into a vessel of glory through our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. And even a “wild donkey” can now bear the fruits of the spirit: love, joy, peace, happiness, meekness, longsuffering, kindness: against which there is no law.
But it is not just the descendants of Ishmael who are running around like wild donkeys in the wilderness. Through sin, all men have become imperfect; and even the kindest and most compassionate soul is in a problematic state just as much as the descendants of Ishmael, until he accepts Jesus, and Jesus lives in his heart. Then he can become perfect, as Jesus commands us “be ye also perfect even as your Heavenly Father is perfect”.
Only the invincible commander of all the armies of heaven and earth: the Lord Of Hosts, the Prince of Peace and the Son of the Most high God, whose name is Jesus Christ, can save us from ourselves, and from the devil who is “like a roaring lion seeking as to whom he may devour”.
Points to remember:
- The bible prophesied that the Arabs will always be at war with other nations, even nations within themselves.
- Through sin, imperfection and death came into the world, but through Jesus, we can return to a state of perfection.
- All people, even those of non-violent ancestry, are in a similar state of loss until they accept Jesus.
- With Jesus, we can become perfect, as He commands us “be you also perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect.”
- The people of the Middle East will continue fighting until they accept Jesus or until the world comes to an end.
- Jesus stands at the door of every heart knocking: He doesn’t care about your color or race.
- Even the most flawed, problematic or imperfect people can become vessels of honor prepared for glory through faith in Jesus”.
- There is no problem too big for Jesus to solve, no mountain too deeply rooted for Him to move, no storm too raging that He can’t calm, and no water that He can’t turn into wine.
If you find yourself spewing hatred; if you find yourself always in conflict or wanting to go to war. If you find yourself being victimized or pursued by any enemy, why not let Jesus into your heart and witness His power to calm your storm. Let Him help you to order your ways aright so that even your enemies will be at peace with you. After all, if God is for you, who can be against you?
