Learning from the Animals

Learning From The Animals – a Bible lesson from Brother Ken Jacques

There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise: The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer; The conies are a feeble folk, yet they make their houses in the rocks; The locusts have no king, yet they go forth all of them by bands; The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings palaces. Proverbs 30:24-28

INTRODUCTION

The book of Proverbs is about practical wisdom for living. Solomon uses many parables in his instruction to his son, as does the Spirit of God in every part of the Bible. Our text calls our attention to Job 12:7-8, where we receive our authority for making spiritual applications for our own use ‘But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee: Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee’.

In v.24 of our text, we read ‘There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise‘. It is clear that we can learn much from the study of the characteristics and ways of the animals. When we consider these four creatures, we can learn from the….

PREPARATION OF THE ANTS

In v.25, we read ‘The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer’. The word ‘meat‘ here is a general word used for ‘food’. Consider their:

1. SENSE – They prepare for the future. The scriptures say that if a man does not work, ‘neither shall he eat’. It’s just good common sense to prepare for the future, that we may have sufficient to eat. In the spiritual realm, it is even more important to ‘prepare’ for the future. Sinner friend, you must be prepared to die and face your creator. To be prepared, you must repent of your sins, believe on Jesus, and call upon the Lord in faith. The saints must also face Christ at his Judgment Seat! We need to prepare by laying up our treasures in heaven.

2. STRENGTH – Individuals are weak when alone, but together, many can move mountains. Oh that God’s people could work together with such unity of purpose!

3. SECRET – The secret of their success is cooperation. Each ant does his duty faithfully, without regard for his own comfort, or even his life.

PROTECTION OF THE CONIES

In v.26, we read of the conies `The conies are but a feeble folk, yet they make their houses in the rocks’. The `conies‘, as we understand are called in Bible lands, ‘rock badgers’, and are similar to our cottontail rabbits. Consider their:

1. WEAKNESS – They have no natural defense, and are powerless against predators. Does not this remind us of ourselves? We cannot in our own strength resist and overcome the powers of darkness which seek to destroy us. We are powerless against sin, Satan, sinners and this world system if we rely on our own strength.

2. WISDOM – These helpless creatures find refuge in the rocks, and depend upon the rocks to protect them from the enemy. God’s people, too, find refuge in Christ, who is the ‘rock‘ of our salvation. As Moses found safety in the ‘cleft of the rock’, so do we find our refuge in the rock, Christ Jesus. He is our protection! This is not only true in the physical sense, but also in the spiritual. My soul has been committed to his trust and preservation. Paul said, 2 Timothy 1:12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

POWER OF THE LOCUST

We read in v.27 `The locusts have no king, but yet go they forth all of them by bands’. Locust plagues are not common in our times, but in Bible times, they were devastating. There was little or no defense against them when they appeared to ravage the land. They are often disparaged, but God here emphasizes their strength. Notice their….

1. COOPERATION – ‘they go forth…by bands’. One locust may be easily destroyed, but millions together are unstoppable! Again we see from this animal example that there is great strength in numbers. Christians of like beliefs must learn to stick together and work together as we stand against the powers of darkness.

2. CONTROL – If these insects are observed, it is clear that some invisible force directs them. The same may be said of God’s people. If we are yielded to the control of the Spirit of God, we will move in unity and power. The problem is often that many are going in their own way, and are not led by the Spirit.

3. COURAGE – Nothing stops them. They seem to have no fear of fire or sword, and it seems that the more that are killed, the more come to their funeral (so to speak). It takes very little to deter the average christian in the performance of his duty….difficulties, dangers and disappointments seem to stop even the best of us. Not so the locust!

PERSISTENCE OF THE SPIDER

In v.28, we read of the lowly spider ‘The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings palaces’. Anyone who has observed spiders will have to admit that they have some very interesting qualities. Spiders, like locusts are often hated and even feared (I must admit both, ick!). There are, however, a couple of characteristics they have which we ought to emulate. They are:

1. DETERMINED – If you watch a spider for long, you will conclude that they are determined creatures. No matter how many times their web is damaged or even destroyed, they just keep on building it back. Christians must learn to be persistent in the work of God also. So many times, our culture affects our attitudes about God’s work. Even pastors and missionaries are often affected by this ‘get it done now, or yesterday’ philosophy. I have seen many young preachers start a church, and then quit when it doesn’t grow as they expected. We must remember that ‘except the LORD build the house, they labor in vain that build it’. We witness to people, and expect an immediate conversion. Certainly we are anxious for their salvation, but we must patiently wait on God to do his work of conviction and drawing. We must simply keep on going back over and over and watering the seed with tears and love, and wait on God. The spider seems to know this lesson and practices it well.

2. DARING – There is no place safe from the spider. She will build her web in places we would not anticipate. Even ‘in king’s palaces’. It’s interesting where God places his people. Remember Nehemiah was placed by the providence of God in the king’s very chamber as his cup bearer. Esther was placed in the king’s palace as his queen…and God’s people were delivered because of it. Often we do not know why God places us where he does, but he always has a plan better than ours would be. We need to learn to patiently wait and spin our web in the place God has put us until it’s his will to move us.

Go to the ant thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,

Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest. Proverbs 6:6-8

Bro. Ken Jacques