The Royal funeral and horses

All across the world, the funeral of Queen Elizabeth has been one of the constants on television since the ceremonies began over a week ago. In many of the processions, the coffin has been carried along by horses with riders.

Now, a horse is a really strong animal. In fact look at how God himself described the horse in the book of Job – “Do you give the horse its strength or clothe its neck with a flowing mane? Do you make it leap like a locust, striking terror with its proud snorting? It paws fiercely, rejoicing in its strength, and charges into the fray. It laughs at fear, afraid of nothing; it does not shy away from the sword. The quiver rattles against its side, along with the flashing spear and lance. In frenzied excitement it eats up the ground; it cannot stand still when the trumpet sounds. At the blast of the trumpet it snorts, ‘Aha!’ It catches the scent of battle from afar, the shout of commanders and the battle cry.” Job 39:19‭-‬25 NIV. Even we humans describe a horse as aloof, challenging, fearless to name a few. Yet, it is this same animal, as strong and fierce as it is, that had been used countless times as part of the solemn processions we’ve seen in the last few days.

So, where is all that strength?
Where is all that fierceness?
It has become power under someone else’s control achieved through the ‘breaking‘ process.

You see, the horse is not born ready to be subject to anyone. For a horse to be ridden, it has to first be tamed (which is why even for tamed horses, they sometimes throw unknown riders off because that rider is not ‘their master’ or their master has not ‘given them the ‘go-ahead’ to carry the rider). So, how does ‘the master’ get this really strong animal to be obedient to Him? He/She ‘breaks’ the horse and believe me the ‘breaking process’ doesn’t come easy for either the horse nor it’s master. However, because the master has a purpose for the horse, he doesn’t relent even when the horse stubbornly doesn’t want to be broken. The process is repeated multiple times until the horse, as strong and fearless as it is, surrenders its will to the master. It is then, and only then that it can be used for the master’s purpose – even something as significant as being responsible for safely and gently carrying the Queen’s coffin from one location to another – walking solemnly for miles.

Isn’t this how it is with God and us? He has endowed you and I with our own unique abilities, opportunities etc. (strength) which is supposed to be used to fulfill His purpose. However, the only way we get to fulfill His purpose is to be completely surrendered to His will and that involves a process of ‘brokenness’ – totally and completely yielded to do the master’s will and not our will.

You see, the wild (unbroken) horse doesn’t mind being fed and sheltered from the elements etc., by the master but doesn’t want to surrender. However, without surrender, it is not fit for purpose and guess what, if a horse consistently refuses to be broken, it could potentially be substituted for another because the master has a need that has to be met. I pray you and I will not be like the wild horse – content to get blessings from God yet refuses to be broken and surrenderour wills to Him. Unbroken, we miss out on those wonderful parades (God’s divine purposes) that God has lined up for us.

Remain connected,
Bolaji Ajayi.

P.S.
There were certainly many broken horses available for use but these ones were specifically chosen. Could it be because they had reached a certain level of brokenness and could be trusted more than the others to immediately and completely obey?