Asses vs. Lions a Biblical Perspective

The lion is touted as the King of Beast.  Asses are at best important to only those who use them.  I can't recall ever seeing and exhibit of donkeys at a zoo but I certainly make sure to stop by and see the lions.  Disney has given us the Lion King but Donkey is Shrek's irritating talking sidekick which reminds us of Balaam's Ass in the Bible.

Balaam's Ass is without a doubt the most amazing animal of the bible and of all history.  The account of Balaam's Ass is found in Numbers 22:23-33.  The Israelites had completed the Exodus from Egypt and were on their way to the Promised Land.  Israel was compelled to contend with many different nations along the way to the Promised Land.  The Moabites led by King Balak hired Balaam to curse the Israelites.  It is this incident that God allows Balaam's Ass to speak.  Balaam's Ass saw the Angel of the Lord and would not pass the Angel but turned aside each time.  It is important to note here that what the Ass actually saw was

Numbers 22:23 . . . the angel of the Lord standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand:

The Angel was there to kill Balaam.  The Ass three times tried to avert Balaam's death at the hand of the Angel.  She turned aside into a field, thrust herself against a wall thereby crushing Balaam's foot and finally she fell down under Balaam.  Then the Lord opened the mouth of the Ass and she said

Numbers 22:28 . . . What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?

and Balaam responded

Numbers 22:29 . . . Because thou has mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee.

and the Ass said

Numbers 22:30 . . . Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee?

and Balaam answered

Numbers 22:30 . . . Nay. 

That's when God opened Balaam's eyes so he could see the Angel of the Lord.  This is what the Angel had to say to Balaam on behalf of the Ass.

Numbers 22:32-33 . . . Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times?  behold, I went out to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse before me: 33 And the ass saw me, and turned from me these three times: unless she had turned from me, surely now also I had slain thee, and saved her alive.     

What is so interesting to me is the fact that Balaam responded to his donkey as though this was a commonplace event.

Asses  1 :  Lions  0

Now to Judges and the life of Samson.  Samson of course is recorded as the strongest man in the history of the Israelites.  He was a Judge in the lag time between Joshua's rule over the Israelites after the death of Moses and the era of the Kings that begin with Saul.  The first recorded mighty deed that Samson did was the slaying of a young lion.  It is recorded in Judges 14: 5-8.  Not only did he kill the lion but when he passed by again there was a beehive from which he ate honey in the carcase of the lion.

The very next chapter of Judges 15:15-19 we find the incident of Samson and the new jawbone of an ass with which he slew a thousand men.  Samson asked for water from God and clave a hollow in that same jaw and water flowed for Samson to drink.

Apparently, even a dead Ass is honorable in God's eyes.

Asses  2 :  Lions 0

In I Samuel 17:34-37 we have the issue of the Philistines mocking King Saul and the Israelite army.  David (the future King of Israel) has been sent to supply his brothers at the camp.  David upon hearing the mocking of the Philistines declares that the Lord who had delivered him out of the paw of the lion will also deliver David out of the hand of Goliath the Philistine.

I Samuel 17:34-35 And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear and took a lamb out of the flock:  35 And I went out after him and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him.

Asses  2 :  Lions  0

Then we go to the incident of the unknown prophet in I Kings 13:24 about which I have already blogged.  The lion neither gets to eat the young prophet or the ass. 

Asses  3 :  Lions 0

We come to the incident of Daniel in the Lions Den.  This incident can be found in Daniel 6:7-28.  Darius the Mede had overthrown the Babylonians and inherited Daniel the Prophet.  Darius had been tricked into making a decree by Daniel's enemies that no one could ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days except of Darius himself.  Daniel followed his regular routine of making prayers and supplications to God and his enemies of course were there to catch him and he was thrown into the lions den in accordance with the royal decree.  Darius was very upset because Daniel was his favorite prince.  Darius assured Daniel the God of Daniel would keep him from the lions.

Daniel 6:16 . . . Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.

Of course God did deliver Daniel and Darius had the conspirators thrown into the Lions Den.  So, Daniel's enemies got eaten by the Lions meant for him and Darius proclaimed God supreme.

Daniel 6:26-27 I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end.  27 He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.

I give the lions one here because it was this incident that caused God to be recognized as supreme and while they did not get to eat Daniel they did get to eat his enemies!!

Asses  3 :  Lions  1

Zechariah 9:9 is a prophecy about Messiah riding upon an ass and Matthew 21:2-5 is the fulfillment of that prophecy.

Zechariah  9:9 Rejoice greatly, O daugther of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.

What a great honor for such a low creature.

Asses  4 :  Lions  1

II Peter 2:16 we are reminded by Peter of the false prophet Balaam whom God had to rebuke with the beloved Ass from Numbers 22.

II Peter 2:1-3 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.  2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways: by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.  3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

So, Balaam's Ass gets a double mention in the Bible.

II Peter 2:14-17 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: 15 Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; 16 But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man's voice forbad the madness of the prophet. 17 These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.

Remember be smarter than a dumb ass don't follow the false prophets and teachers who are making merchandise of you -- those who want all your money in exchange for a blessing!!

Asses  4  :  Lions  1

Hebrews 11 The Hall of Faith Chapter mentions again the Lions of Daniel

Hebrews 11:33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,

Asses  4  :  Lions  2

Finally, in Revelation 5:5 we meet the true and majestic Lion

Revelation 5:5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

I imagine that this incident is on the verge of happening or is already in the process of happening.  The timeline to the end of this age is growing short.  The Second Advent of Christ may be less than a decade from ensuing.  For those whose trust is in Jesus Christ look up! our redemption draweth nigh!

To have the honor of being the symbology for the King of Kings deserves merit.

Final Score

Asses  4  :  Lions 3

The moral is:  just because something appears humble and lowly doesn't mean it can't be used for honor

and

just because a thing seems majestic and powerful doesn't mean it can't be debased for something else to be honored.