The Law of the Donkey

“If you see the donkey of someone who hates you lying helpless under its load, and you want to refrain from helping it, you must help with it.” (Exodus 23:5)

Why do we do what we do? What is it that motivates us to the actions we take?

Sometimes our actions seem to be tied to our relationships and, in particular, to the level of closeness of those relationships. If a relationship is strong, warm, and vibrant, our actions tend to be good, positive, and proactive. If a relationship is weak, cool, and distant, then our actions tend to follow suit. We gravitate toward those relationships that are good, and we stay away from those that are bad. This seems to be pretty much humanly normal and par for the course.

In the donkey law mentioned above (yes, there is one) in Exodus 23:5, we actually see the specific mention of a donkey. We may find that a little odd. Donkeys were used – and still are in some places in the world – for carrying heavy loads, and sometimes the load got too large and heavy and exceeded the donkey’s strength, leaving it lying on the side of the road, helpless and unable to get back up. Many folks would tend to want to help the donkey. But what if you knew that the owner of that donkey was someone who hates you? Some might be tempted to say, “Serves him right,” and pass on by. Such actions are tied to relationships.

In the community of the redeemed, we cannot tie our actions to either the closeness or the distance of a relationship. The strength of that relationship is not to determine our actions one way or another. What is to determine our actions is the need that we see, regardless of whether a relationship is positive or negative. We must look for the right thing to do and then do it, no matter how we may feel about it, or what the nature of the relationship is that may be tied to that action. This is what the community of the redeemed does, and that is why we do not follow the normal ways of this world. This is what distinguishes us from the world. This is “agape” at work.

Lord, How marvelous are Your teachings and Your ways. Help us to live according to them. Amen.