IN THIS next verse the Lord warns His people against the unequal yoke. "Thou shalt not plow with an ox and an ass together."
Under the law of Moses the ox was a clean animal — it divided the hoof and chewed the cud. Spiritually dividing the hoof speaks of discernment to judge between right and wrong, between light and darkness, and power to walk in separation to Christ from this world and all that is not pleasing to Him. Chewing the cud speaks of communion with the Lord and quiet meditation on His Word. The ox is marked by patient endurance, a quality of the new nature in the believer.
The ass on the other hand was declared an unclean animal. It neither divided the hoof nor chewed the cud. The wild ass is very wild and swift, seldom tamed, and in Scripture is used to portray man's fallen nature. Thus the two animals had nothing in common. They speak of the believer and the unbeliever.
As Christians we are warned: "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers; for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?" 2 Cor. 6:1414Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? (2 Corinthians 6:14). This applies not only to marriage, but also to business partnerships, religious fellowships, charitable and benevolent societies, in fact, anything where believers are joined with the world and work together toward the same objective.
In business the object of the man of the world is to make money. He lives for this world only; whereas the Christian's hopes are heavenly and his object in life ought to be to honor his Saviour while waiting for His. coming again. The effect of the unequal yoke here would be to dull the Christian's testimony. How many religious fellowships, lodges and such there are where Christians and unbelievers sit down together to promote a common cause. Then there are the many charitable and benefit societies with aims to help the needy, and to alleviate the suffering of the poor and oppressed. Surely we ought to be ready, as led of the Lord, to help the poor with what He has given us, but to join a society for that purpose is another thing. An old writer once said, If asked if I would help a poor man out of the ditch I would reply, Certainly; but if asked to be a member of a mixed society of believers and unbelievers for the purpose of helping people out of ditches, I would refuse.
If a Christian finds himself in an unequal yoke, the word of the Lord is: "Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be My sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty." 2 Cor. 6:17,1817Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. (2 Corinthians 6:17‑18).
Messages of the Love of God 9/14/1975