Yoked-Paired Up

Last week I wrote about wearing a properly fitting yoke.  Hopefully we have spent some time identifying the wrong yokes we have been bearing and have laid those down.  If we have allowed ourselves to be yoked by Jesus then we also need to allow Him to train us.

Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  Matthew 11:29

We see in the verse above that after we take His yoke, we must let him teach us.  He is gentle with us, slow to anger, abounding in love, and patient. He will help us to learn obedience to him and to do the work he created for us. 

As we carried the wrong yokes we served a different master.  We learned the ways of the wrong master and now we must learn obedience to Jesus.  This will take time and training.

In Training

Before an ox can be of use, it must learn how to walk alongside another ox while carrying the yoke.  Imagine what training this must involve as the ox has grown accustomed to the freedom of moving in any direction of his choosing and now he will be bound to another. 

This image reminds me of dancing with my husband.  For so many years I danced alone or with a large group where being in-step was not necessary.  I could move in any direction I desired.  But, now, couple dancing. Yikes!  I’m a leader, even when dancing, which means my husband gets his toes stepped on a lot.  My tendency to lead also results in most of our time standing still since a couple does not get very far when they are pushing against each other.  

When an ax is learning how to move with a yoke, it is paired with an ox of equal size and strength.  The Bible uses this principle to our lives as we read in 2 Corinthians 6:14:

Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?

During our training we need to ensure that we are walking with people who are liked-minded, who have also agreed to bear Jesus’ yoke. 

The oxen need to learn to work together in unity or both will experience strain and chafing.  In the beginning of training both will hurt a little as they learn to move in harmony, kind of like learning to couple dance.

And so we must also learn to work in unity or we too will feel the strain and discomfort of each person wanting to go his own way. 

 I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.  1 Corinthians 1: 10

At times we may feel the strain and the rub.  This does not necessarily mean we have taken up the wrong yoke again.  It may be a sign that we are out of step with others.  Perhaps there is an issue of conflict or disunity that needs to be reconciled. 

Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.  Ephesians 4:3

For a pair of oxen to work together, one must be dominant and lead.  Two strong-willed oxen result in a lot of tension.

As we live this Christian life, sometimes we will need to lead and sometimes we will need to follow.  The trick is learning to hear what God is asking of you and to obey. 

If we want to plow some fields we need to bear a properly fitted yoke, be yoked with others of similar builds, and know our role. 

May I encourage you to look at who is sharing your yoke and see how well you are working together?  If there is any tension or strain seek forgiveness, humility, and unity. And remember He is a good and gentle teacher.

Perhaps next week I will share with you about pulling a load and working in the woods.

Yoked-Part One

It was the summer of 2009 and Jamey and I were attending a conference in Colorado.  I distinctly remember sitting outside on beautiful sunny days admiring the splendor of the mountains surrounding us and questioning God about this verse:

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”  Matthew 11: 28-30

God, what does this mean?  I thought I took your yoke, so why am I weary?  Why is this so hard?  Why is this so heavy?  I know this verse should be encouraging, but it isn’t when I didn’t find the truth in it.  So I kept seeking the Lord for understanding and over time He answered me.  Perhaps you have struggled with this verse as well? 

Let's look into these verses together.

Let's start with the yoke.  Do you know what a yoke is?  I didn’t really.  I am definitely not a farm girl. I don’t even know how to properly plant a flower, let alone to have any knowledge of archaic farming equipment. I am thankful the Internet provides a wealth of information about yokes and oxen from which I gained much insight about Biblical references to yokes.

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What is the purpose of a yoke?  How does it work?

A yoke is a wooden beam placed on the backs of a pair of oxen and a u-shaped bow is placed around the neck of each ox, which enables them to pull a heavy load TOGETHER.  A yoke makes the work easier for the oxen because the burden is shared.

In Matthew 11, Jesus invites us to come to Him and take His yoke.  Yes, we are to carry a load, but with Jesus’ yoke the load should be lighter as we share the burdens with Him or with fellow Christians. 

The yoke must be the right fit.  When researching I discovered there are specific directions for fitting oxen for their yoke.  In fact in the past yokes were custom-made because yokes that didn’t fit just right would cause chaffing and would wound the oxen.  During Jesus’ time, the yokes were made of wood and fashioned by carpenters.  Hmmm, wasn’t Jesus a carpenter?  I wonder if he ever crafted yokes?

Yes, my yoke was ill-fitting.  I was being rubbed raw and wounded.  On the website, oxhilldevons.com, I read, “You can’t expect an animal to give their all with ill-fitting equipment.”  Then I read in Oxen: A Teamster’s Guide, when an ox is wearing a yoke that is too big or too small it will exhibit signs of discomfort such as backing away, unwillingness to work, and dropped heads.  Wow! I was an ox with an ill-fitting yoke!  I was showing the same signs.  I wasn’t giving my all.  I was employing the equipment with the wrong fit.  How about you?  How is your yoke fitting?

The problem was I picked up the wrong yoke.  I wasn’t wearing the one the master carpenter crafted for me, the tailored-made one.  The One, who knit me together in my mother’s womb and knows everything about me, knows how to custom make my yoke, so I am not wounded or too burdened.  

The Amplified Bible describes His yoke as, “wholesome (useful, good—not harsh, hard, sharp, or pressing, but comfortable, gracious, and pleasant).” He has made a yoke for you, too.  Which yoke sits on your back an ill-fitted one or the custom-made, properly fitted one?  Are you wearing the yoke of sin?  Or the yoke of the law?  Or the yoke of lies?  Or the yoke of expectations?  Or the yoke of trying to do it all?  Are you chaffed?  Are you wounded?  Are you weary?

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May I encourage you to take off any yoke that Jesus has not given to you and allow him to fit you with the right one?  Jesus invites you to come and take the yoke he has for you, the one that is comfortable, gracious, pleasant and easy to bear.  No more backing away and dropping your head.

Hopefully next week we can learn how to be trained to work with a new yoke!