Oxen & Asses
Gtcotr/011404
Key Scripture: Deuteronomy 22:10 Thou shalt not plow with an ox and an ass together.
It’s often bad enough just to be understood, let alone misunderstood.
“Those who walk the highest road of truth, tread the razor edge of heresy.” Reverend Moses Vegh
One of the great communication tools is voiced in this simple sentence, “Seek first to understand before seeking to be understood.”
I ask you this evening to seek with me to understand the current application of the key scripture to our lives in God’s plan for these days we live in.
I. Yoked Together
A. Oxen are symbols of strength, dependability and increase
* Proverbs 14:4 Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox.
> This verse speaks of:
* The cost of productive ministry
* The increase available from yokable ministry
B. Asses are a symbol of an undisciplined, selfish and stubborn will
* Job 39:5 Who hath sent out the wild ass free? or who hath loosed the bands of the wild ass?
* bands - Comes from the Hebrew root word - yacar
Meaning to allow oneself to be corrected & instructed
* To be disciplined (stubbornness is like iniquity & idolatry)
C. Asses are an unacceptable sacrifice
Exodus 13
12 That thou shalt set apart unto the LORD all that openeth the matrix, and every firstling that cometh of a beast which thou hast; the males shall be the LORD’S.
13 And every firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb; and if thou wilt not redeem it, then thou shalt break his neck …
* Asses Are An Unacceptable Sacrifice
* If a lamb does not take its place, then death is all that awaits the ass.
4. Some People Are Likened To Asses In The Scriptures
Genesis 49
14 Issachar is a strong ass couching down between two burdens:
15 And he saw that rest was good, and the land that it was pleasant; and bowed his shoulder to bear, and became a servant unto tribute.
5. Genesis 16:12 And he shall be as a wild ass among men; his hand shall be against every man, and every man’s hand against him; and he shall dwell over against all his brethren. (ASV)
* NIV says, wild donkey of a man
II. Traditional Reasons For Not Yoking The Ox & Ass Together
A. The Ox is considered a clean animal, fit for sacrifice and good for food.
B. The Ass is considered unclean, he does not chew the cud, nor does he have a split hoof, rendering him unfit for sacrifice and food.
C. For whatever reason, God has made it pretty clear that the ass is not acceptable to Him. If man cannot get some good out of the ass, does not desire to work with his stubbornness to get some productivity out of him, then just kill him, God does not want him.
III. A Deeper Revelation
According to Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, Commentary on the Whole Bible
* When yoked together, Asses continually attempt to bite oxen … it’s their nature.
* Unlike Oxen, Asses will feed on poisonous weeds that produce toxic breath.
* Oxen yoked together with Asses tend to turn their heads away from the toxic breath and continual biting.
* When the Ox turns his head, his shoulders twist, putting only one shoulder against the load he is pulling.
* When the Ox twist in the harness, the harness is stretched and the Ass is loosed from the weight of the load.
* An Ass that is not pulling a load will begin to wander, drag his feet, pull back and eventually balk.
* An Ox yoked with an Ass has to pull the whole load with only half of his strength, combating the foul and biting mouth of the wandering, balking Ass while he drags the Ass along with the load.
* The Ox that is left yoked with an Ass, smelling the toxic breath, will become sick, weak and will eventually die.
III. The Terrible Truth About Asses
A. First is the: Uneducated Asses
1. 1 Timothy 1
12 ¶ And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;
13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
2. Luke 12:48a But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes.
B. Then you have the: Educated Asses
1. Luke 12:47 And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.
2. Luke 12:48b For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.
3. Proverbs 26:12 See that man who thinks he’s so smart? You can expect far more from a fool than from him.
4. James 4:17 Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.
5. Conclusion
* It’s better To Be An Uneducated Ox Than An Educated Ass
* John 15:22 "If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin.”
Don’t be an ass, for heaven’s sake, don’t be a smart … educated ass!
The Good News
IV. You Don’t Have To Be An Ass Anymore
A. Die to your asinine ways … accept the Lamb’s sacrifice for you - God is willing to - He offered the Lamb for the right to keep you
B. Be born again through salvation
C. Be transformed through discipleship
