I had originally planned to call this "Horses In The Bible," but then I remembered that donkeys and mules are also mentioned in the Bible. Somehow, "Equines In The Bible" didn't have quite the same ring to it.
The most notable donkey in the Bible is found in the New Testament. When Jesus entered Jerusalem at the start of what is now known as Holy Week, he rode a donkey. Not just a donkey - it was a young, unbroken colt that had never been ridden before. That colt probably had more sense than the people in Jerusalem. He'd never been ridden before, but he didn't buck, he didn't try to throw Jesus off his back, he didn't refuse to move. Perhaps he knew he was carrying the Lord of the universe that day.
Another famous donkey in the Bible is found in the Old Testament. This was the donkey who belonged to Balaam. (see Numbers 22:21-35) Balaam had ridden this donkey for years and she'd served him faithfully. The king of Moab had asked Balaam to curse the Israelites. Balaam saddled up his donkey and headed for Moab. The donkey saw the Angel of the Lord with a sword in his hand. Wanting to protect her master, she moved off the road and turned into a field. Balaam beat the donkey to get her back on the road. The donkey saw the Angel of the Lord a second time and pressed against a wall to protect her master. Balaam beat her again. The donkey saw the Angel of the Lord a third time. There was no place to go, so she laid down under Balaam. He beat her again. The Lord allowed the donkey to speak. She asked Balaam why he had beaten her. Hadn't she always done what he'd asked her to do in the past? Then the Lord opened Balaam's eyes and he saw the Angel of the Lord with his sword drawn. The donkey had seen the Angel of the Lord three times and three times she saved Balaam's life.
King Solomon owned twelve thousand horses imported from Egypt and Cilicia (located in what is now southeast Turkey). He also had fourteen hundred chariots. Some he kept in Jerusalem with him, others were kept in other cities. I imagine Solomon's horses were the most magnificent horses in the world at that time. I don't think the richest, wisest man in the world would settle for anything less than the very best.
In Job 39:5-8, the Lord questioned Job about the wild donkey; in 39:19-25, He questioned Job about the horse. As a side note, the Disney movie Secretariat opens with Job 39:19-25. Both Psalms and Proverbs make references to horses, donkeys and mules.
In Acts 23, Paul's nephew learns of a plot to murder Paul. The young man is taken to the commander of the barracks and tells him about the plot. Seventy horsemen accompany Paul during the night to take him to Governor Felix to thwart the plans of those who wanted to kill him.
The most impressive horsemanship in the Bible is yet to come. "I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice He judges and wages war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on His head are many crowns. He has a name written on Him that no one knows but He Himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and His name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following Him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Coming out of His mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. 'He will rule them with an iron scepter.' He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On His robe and on His thigh He has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS." Revelation 19:11-16 (NIV+)
That's the ride this cowgirl of faith is looking forward to most of all!
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