PROVERBS 30: 24-28
SMALL BUT SIGNIFICANT
Ants, badgers, locust, and lizards....Sounds like we're on a nature walk - or an advertisement for a new animated movie. Well, we will be letting these animals of God's Creation teach us, and I hope they help our message tonight come alive. Man can draw instruction from the physical world, for God teaches us by His works as well as His word (30:5). He teaches us by His small works as well as His great Universe.
As Agur the writer of Proverbs 30 continues his list of observations, he says there are four seemingly insignificant beings that teach very significant lessons such as wisdom triumphs over physical strength. According to the opening statement in verse 24, "Four things are small on the earth, but they are exceedingly wise."
Each animal represents a contrast which refers to wisdom triumphing over weakness, or lack of worldly significance or strength. We should not think that size means defeat or insignificance. Size does not count nearly as much as wisdom (CIT). Within each creature there is a remarkable ability that can lead to great accomplishment.
Oftentimes we despise the little things upon the earth, but if we look a little deeper at them we might see the hand of God who furnished these little creatures with sufficient means of provision, defense, and safety.
[This lesson is particulary fitting for younger or less gifted students. Its point is that persistent, thoughtful effort will pay off even for those who seem less promising.] May we let each of God's creatures teach us lesson's in life.
I. THE ANT (25)
The first illustration taken from nature is the ant in verse 25. The ants are not a strong people, but they prepare their food in the summer."
One of the small but wise creatures are ants. Ants are exceedingly wise according to Agur. Ants display their wisdom in unwearied industry, prudent foresight, and leaderless teamwork, as they gather their food in the summer (6:6-8). Though so unimpressive and common that hundreds can be crushed by the tread of a foot, yet they wisely prepare way ahead for the coming winter.
We might learn a lesson from them and prepare for retirement, but a better lesson learned would be to prepare here and now for the coming eternity. It would be ill considered not to prepare for retirement now but a far greater thoughtlessness would be in making no provision for the coming eternity. Sitting back in inactivity, as if there was no work for God, for the soul, or for eternity to be done could be unwise preparation for a certain future. "Prepare to meet your God," Amos declared (4:12). Yet so often man ignores the warning concerning eternity. Even a smaller than a pee brain ant knows to prepare for the certain future.
[Ants not only survive, but thrive, due to their industry, foresight and teamwork. One lone ant can't accomplish much. Well, he can move a few crumbs around and dig out a few grains of dirt, but he can't construct a vast underground community by himself. That requires communication and cooperation. But ants are experts at teamwork. And that's another lesson they teach us.
Ants: little on the earth, yet so wise. People: masters of the earth, yet have much to learn from the ants. As Christian workers, are we learning the lesson of working together with our fellow believers to accomplish God's work? Or are we trying to do it all ourselves - risking burn out and failure? God's work done in God's way requires teamwork.]
II. THE BADGER (26)
The weak and defenseless rock-badgers in verse 26 wisely make their house in the rocks. "The shephanim are not mighty people, yet they make their houses in the rocks".
Bible scholars have difficulty identifying the animal this Hebrew word designates. It has been called a coney, a badger and a shephanim or a rock badger (small, shy, furry) or Syrian Hyrax.
The "rock badgers," animals about the size of rabbits but with smaller ears and shorter legs like guinea pigs. They are fast, but they can't maintain their speed. They can be run down quite easily. Thus it is extremely vulnerable to attack from its natural predators. Its enemies include snakes, eagles, buzzards, leopards, lions, dogs and other small beasts of prey such as the mongoose. How does this little fellow manage to survive with so many enemies? This small animal knows where to go when danger threatens.
It makes its home in clefts of the rocks frequently along the side of a steep cliff. Those rugged crags jutting out from the mountains are a perfect hiding place for the badger. If an eagle swoops down and tries to capture him, the little animal is protected by the rock. The eagle would have to tear the mountain apart to get at its prey. When a lion is on the prowl for lunch, the badger often goes undetected by lying close to the rock, because he is the same color as the mountain.
As long as the badger hides in the rocks, he is safe. If he wanders away into the grassland, he is dead meat. The most courageous badger in the world is no match for even a small lion. The badger is wise enough to know that his strength lies not in becoming belligerent or working out at the gym but in taking shelter in the crags. They make wise choices concerning their environs so they can hole up to escape animals of prey or human hunters (Ps. 104:18).
We can learn a lot from the rock badger, for we have much in common. We are susceptible to many dangers also. Disease, depression, war, accident, isolation and Satan's demons threaten us continuously. If only we could have a place of protection like that little creature. The good news is that we can. We too have a rock in which to hide - the Lord God Himself. Trusting Jesus doesn't exempt us from life's troubles, but it does offer protection for our soul, will, mind or emotions.
Jesus Christ is our Rock (1 Corinthians 10:4). Like the rock badger, I'm weak and defenseless. But I'm safe and secure when I hide myself in the Rock of Jesus Christ.
If you have the instincts or wisdom of a badger you figure out where your strength and protection lies. It is not bad to be weak - if you are wise enough to take refuge in God. "Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might" (Eph. 6:10). David cried out after being hunted by his enemies "The Lord is my fortress" (2 Sam. 22:2). You have nothing to fear if you take refuge in the Rock of Ages. If you feel you're between a rock and a hard place, seek out the Rock of Ages.
O safe to the Rock that is higher than I
My soul in its conflicts and sorrows would fly;
So sinful, so weary - Thine, Thine would I be:
Thou blest "Rock of Ages," I'm hiding in Thee.- Cushing
III. THE LOCUSTS (27)
Verse 27 applauds the locusts who, even without a leader, can fly by the billions in an amazing order across an area. "The locusts have no king, yet all of them go out in ranks;"
Locusts are small creatures about the size of a grasshopper. If alone it is insignificant, accomplishing little but when they join forces with others the resulting swarm has astonished naturalists and travelers alike. They have no king (unlike bees, Canadian geese or a pride of lions that have a leader), but all of them go out in ranks. Though they devour all vegetation in their path it is not to their devastating power that this verse refers, but to their unity. They keep rank as if they are under the ultimate General. The order and simultaneousness of their movements is amazingly incredible. They move like an army with unbroken ranks under the strictest discipline (Joel 1:4-7).
They fly not far above the ground. They each keep their appointed places so exactly while in flight that they look like tiles or stones skillfully placed in pavement. There appears to be not a hair's-breadth between them in flight nor are any out of formation. One swarm was spotted as far as 1200 miles out to sea flying Northward from West Africa toward the British Isles. Another swarm covered the more than 40 square miles of air space.
We can learn a lesson from these little creatures. Believers can make far greater advances for Christ's cause when they act and pray together than they could ever make alone. When Christians are united in serving the Lord, they can become a mighty force for God.
Although the New Testament urges us to possess a personal faith in Jesus Christ, it says nothing at all about a private faith. We need other believers, and other believers need us.
Let's enjoy the strength and fellowship available in the unified body of Christ. An effective church will reflect the good sense of the locust by its love and unity in the Holy Spirit. We can draw strength and gain precision from one another when we move out in unity with other brethren. Two Christians are always better than one- if they are One in Christ.
Lord heal our unhappy divisions. Unite our energies in one holy bond of truth, peace, faith and love.
IV. THE LIZARD (28).
A small easily caught lizard in verse 28 seem to have the run of kings' palaces. "The lizard you may grasp with the hands, Yet it is in kings' palaces."
Lizard is the common translation but precise identity is uncertain [perhaps a type of gecko]. A lizard is so small that you may easily catch it with your hands and hold it in your grasp. Yet they are wiser than humans because they have the capacity to gain entrance into places like palaces which we don't have. By its surefooted tenacity and cunning it easily scales the highest walls and evades the best defenses, then while there it seems to have the run of the place. Where we are hesitant to go the lizard fearlessly shows up and makes itself comfortable even in royal "palaces."
Physical limitations may be compensated for in other ways. Do you think you have some limitation that would hold you back? If you use the resources and ability you do have there is no telling where you might end up.
CONCLUSION
Are you willing to learn the lessons some of God's seemingly insignificant creatures can teach us? The ant teaches that industry, and preparation and team work make up for lack of strength. The Rock Badger teaches us to know our refuge, stay close to it, and flee to it in time of need. The locust teaches us the power of knowing our place, being in our place, and cooperating to accomplish major tasks. The lizard teaches us not to let our limitations hold us back, but to use what resources and abilities we have and strive to find our place. Like the little engine that said "I think I can, I think I can, I think I can" is a symbol of how progress is made and service rendered by those whose wisdom and determination may be greater than their stature or talent.
God provides for and protects the humblest of creatures who will follow His plan for them. He will certainly provide and protect His people who in wisdom will learn to follow His plan for their life.
