Born like a Wild Ass’s Colt

Job 11:12  •  2 min. read  •  grade level: 8
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As the Lord needed the colt on which He rode into Jerusalem, so He needs every sinner. "Not a very complimentary simile to compare us to an ass!" someone may say. We often find that man is compared to animals in the Scriptures. He is compared to a sow for uncleanness (2 Peter 2:2222But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire. (2 Peter 2:22)), to sheep for stupidity (Isa. 53:66All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:6)), to a dog for an object of contempt (Matt. 15:2626But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs. (Matthew 15:26)), and to an ass for wildness and willfulness Gob 11:12). I am, therefore, warranted in using an ass to illustrate the condition the sinner is in, and what the Lord is willing to do for him.
4. USELESS TO GOD AS A SINNER. As the colt had never been ridden on, and therefore had been of no use (Mark 11:22And saith unto them, Go your way into the village over against you: and as soon as ye be entered into it, ye shall find a colt tied, whereon never man sat; loose him, and bring him. (Mark 11:2)), so the sinner is useless to God, for they who are in the flesh cannot please God (Rom. 8:88So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. (Romans 8:8)).
5. KNOWN BY CHRIST. As the colt was known by Christ before it was brought to Him (Mark 11:22And saith unto them, Go your way into the village over against you: and as soon as ye be entered into it, ye shall find a colt tied, whereon never man sat; loose him, and bring him. (Mark 11:2)), and He directed where and how it would be found, so Christ knew us before we knew Him. He gives in detail our natural character in Rom. 3.
F. Marsh