The Christian Online Magazine -
Email Connie
Does God speak to us through His creation? Absolutely!
Psalm 19:1 & 3 says -"The heavens declare the glory of God; and the
firmament sheweth His handywork...There is no speech nor language,
where their voice is not heard."
But what about the smallest and seemingly insignificant creatures? Can
God speak to us through the ant, the coney, the locust, and the spider
for example? In Proverbs 30:24-28, Agur the son of Jakeh proves that God
can and does speak a message to all of us through these small
creatures. Even though they appear "little upon the earth", they are "exceeding
wise"; that is, they are wiser than the wise.
1 Corinthians 1:27, tells us that God selects the "weak things of the
world to confound the things which are mighty." He purposely chooses
the "weak" or frail things to "confound" or put to shame the "mighty" or
powerful ones. What could be weaker than the ant, the coney, the
locust, and the spider in comparison to God's masterpiece creation - man? Yet
God chooses these feeble creatures to teach man some very significant
lessons in life.
What lesson could the ant possibly teach us?
Proverbs 30:25 tells us - "The ants are a people not strong, yet they
prepare their meat in the summer." Ants are not strong, yet they are
very wise. Their wisdom is exemplified by their preparing their food in the
summer. This is the best time -the opportune time to store food. They
recognize this and act accordingly. To "prepare their meat" at any
other time would be a total waste.
Proverbs 10:5 says - "He that gathereth in summer is a wise son..."
Opportunities come our way to furnish and improve ourselves both
spiritually and mentally. What do we do with these opportunities? Do we
use them to gather more into our lives and to increase what we have? Or
are we like the son mentioned in Proverbs 10:5 who sleeps in harvest?
Do we love our ease, idle away our time, and neglect our work? Do we
trifle away our opportunities? If so, we will end up disappointed,
disconcerted, and ashamed because we let our opportunities pass us by without
improving on them.
Preparation is the key!
Psalm 112:5 tells us - "A good man...will guide his affairs with
discretion."
Luke 14:28 tells us- "That no one builds a tower without first counting
the cost. "
Proverbs 24:27 says, "To first "Prepare" our work without and then
consider building the house."
Proverbs 22:3 tells us, "A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth
himself..."
Ezra 7:10 also tells us that "...Ezra had prepared his heart to seek
the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and
judgments." In each of these cases, someone had to improve their opportunity by
making the necessary preparations.
Proverbs 6:6 - It would behoove us to consider the ant's ways and
"prepare our meat in the summer" - the day of opportunity.
What can we learn from the coney?
Proverbs 30:26 says - "The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they
their houses in the rocks." Coneys are a species of the rock-rabbit
which show their great wisdom by finding shelter from larger animals in the
clefts of the rocks.
Hence, Psalm 104:18 says - "The high hills are a refuge for the wild
goats; and the rocks for the conies." They are "feeble" and of little
power. Their weakness drives them to make their habitation in the huge
rocks where their enemies can never reach them.
What about us? Do we recognize out utter weakness outside of Christ?
What do we do about it? Do we find shelter from our enemies in the Rock of
Ages - the Lord Jesus Christ? When we are facing danger or trouble of
any sort, do we try to handle it on our own or do we run to the LORD, our
Rock(Psalm 18:2)?
In Psalm 61:2 King David recognized his utter frailties and cried out
to the Lord - "...lead me to the Rock that is higher than I." In times of
danger David looked to the Lord as his "Rock"(Psalm 18:2). Like the
rocks in Palestine, the Lord his God was an elevated refuge inaccessible by
his nemies.
Again, Isaiah 32:2 speaks of the Lord Jesus Christ "...as the shadow of
a great rock in a weary land." In a land filled with fatigue and
weariness, the cooling shade of a far-projecting rock is refreshing. Jesus wants
to be our "strong rock"(Psalm 31:2), offering safety, protection, and
support to us in this life.
Will we be like the coney and recognize our utter feebleness and draw
on the Lord Jesus' strength and protection to make it through this pilgrim
way?
What can we learn from the locust?
Proverbs 30:27 says - "The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all
of them by bands." The locusts are a very intriguing species of creation.
They have no king - no leader - yet they are harmonious creatures who
band together as one. They advance together in ranks. They go forth in
bands, maintaining order among themselves.
Out of our sense of weakness, do we band together with other believers
in the Lord Jesus Christ in order to strengthen our walk with the Lord? Do
we recognize the extreme importance of unity and likemindedness with
our brethren? Are we advancing against the forces of Darkness as a "lone
ranger" or as a member of the Mighty Army of God?
Philippians 1:27 tells us to "...stand fast in one spirit, with one
mind striving together for the faith of the Gospel." In other words, wrestle
together in union with other brethren against the enemies of the Cross
of Christ.
1 Corinthians 1:10 tells us to "...be perfectly joined together in the
same mind and in the same judgment."
Ephesians 4:3 tells us to endeavor to "keep the unity of the Spirit in
the bond of peace." In other words, labor, make every effort, and give
all diligence to keep the unanimity with other believers in the bond or
"band" of peace, harmony, and concord.
Philippians 2:2 - "Being of one accord..." - Be perfectly agreed to
promote the honor and glory of Jesus.
Romans 15:6 - "With one mind and one mouth" praise and glorify God
together.
Lastly, what can we learn from the spider?
Proverbs 30:28 tells us - "The spider taketh hold with her hands, and
is in kings' palaces." The spider is noted for her great flexibility. She
"taketh hold with her hands." She carries every job to completion. She
is content in whatever state she is in(Philippians 4:11) She is faithful
to do the task set before her.
Are we faithful like the spider? Do we throw ourselves into the work
that God assigns for us to accomplish even though it may be small and
humbling? Or are we too "Big" for the small tasks? Are we wanting to
start out with the grandiose assignments which place us before the
crowds?
Oh, we can glean so much Wisdom from this little creature by "taking
hold with our hands" of the very task that God sets before us each day and
being faithful to do it with all of our might.
Proverbs 20:6 says - "Most men will proclaim every one his own
goodness:but a faithful man who can find?"
Luke 16:10 says - "He that is faithful in that which is least is
faithful also in much..."
Luke 16:12 says - "And if ye have not been faithful in that which is
another man's, who shall give you that which is your own?"
1 Corinthians 4:2 says - "Moreover it is required in stewards, that a
man be found faithful."
If we strive to be faithful as the spider and "take hold with our
hands" of every menial task that the Lord Jesus sends our way, we will find
ourselves exalted by the Lord in due time - "in kings' palaces."
May we glean great Wisdom from the examples of these four "little" but
"exceeding wise" creatures.
May we allow this Wisdom to transform our lives and make us more like
our Creator.
Copyright 2001 by Connie Giordano
