Title

A Donkey By Any Other Name

Scripture
You shall not plow with an ox and a donkey together.
(Deuteronomy 22:10)
Devotional
The applications of scripture are overwhelmingly broad and clear. Can you imagine the cumbersome yoke it would take to plow with an ox and a donkey? The size, gait, and strength of these animals cannot be harnessed together. It is for this reason that the Bible also says, “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers.” (1 Corinthians 6:14). No matter what the purpose, no matter what the value of the crop, the ox and donkey cannot bring about the harvest.
Likewise, there are situations where two can be yoked together for one task, but not another. My wife and I are wonderfully yoked together for the task of marriage and family, but we are not yoked together for all burdens. There are many burdens that I must bear alone. My wife is not designed to carry them with me. If there is a task, problem, or burden that my wife is not designed to bear, I do not place that yoke upon her. If I would, then we would be unequally yoked. One of us would be the ox and the other would be another name for a donkey.