“There are four things on earth that are small but unusually wise: Ants—they aren’t strong, but they store up food all summer. Hyraxes—they aren’t powerful, but they make their homes among the rocks. Locusts—they have no king, but they march in formation. Lizards—they are easy to catch, but they are found even in kings’ palaces.” Proverbs 30:24-28 NLT
Here is a section in Proverbs that urges us to look at the glory of God in nature – as well as the lessons that He wants to teach us from what He has made in the animal kingdom. God has the writer call our attention to four animals that are small, yet exceedingly wise. Therefore, our job is to look at these animals and glean what we can from their habits and their actions. This is also a kind of shot at the “bigger is always better” mentality that exists in our world. The saying should be “wiser is better.” Since that is true in almost every situation, why don’t we apply ourselves to learning from the ants, hyraxes, locusts, and lizards.
We are first called to look at ants. The wisdom of the ant is that he prepares when he can for a time when he will need what he has prepared. This makes the ant exceedingly wise.
In this life we need to be wise in preparing for the future as best we can. Please understand that the example of the ant is that he works HARD when he can to provide. That is the other exceedingly wise thing we should learn – that it is godly to work HARD to provide for your family. This also should remind us of this responsibility in spiritual things as well. Are we “working hard” spiritually for our families – growing in the Lord, studying the Scriptures, praying, being a godly example? Your children need to see this EARLY in our lives – because there will come a day when they decide which direction they are going in life. Know this, they will far more follow our example that they will what we’ve told them to do – especially when these two things did not match up in our lives. I was reminded of this recently by a John Maxwell quote. “We teach what we know, but we reproduce who we are.”
The hyrax the second animal from which we are to learn in this passage. They are very weak and defenseless little creatures. They have long hair, a short little tail, and round ears. These little animals are for the most part defenseless. They cannot burrow into the ground for safety, and they have precious little about them that strikes fear into any predator. What they do for safety is that they hind in and among the rocks to find a place they can be safe.
The little rock hyrax has a message for us. We are defenseless, without hope of deliverance in our own strength, and facing certain death. We need to run to the Rock of ages – the Rock of our salvation – the Rock of refuge – Who is Jesus Christ. There is no other place of true safety for us. Let us come unto Him then, Who is our safety and our hope. Let us come to Him and find not just strength – but ultimate safety from every enemy – and from the judgment that will come.
The next is the locust. Locusts are interesting insects. They do not have a leader – and yet as they come up over the earth and destroy everything in their path, they march in ranks – each staying to a path that seems as if determined from a central planner. Because of this aspect of cooperation with one another, they can cause untold destruction to crop and trees. We do not have the kind of locust infestations that the Middle East does so in some ways we cannot imagine the destruction these cooperating, yet unled insects can cause.
What is the lesson for us in their “exceedingly wise” behavior? It is the lesson of cooperation with one another. There is so much that we can accomplish if we simply take the attitude of fulfilling our role and cooperating with others around us. We should learn from the locust and his great wisdom and know that by simply having a cooperative attitude and heart we will get so much more done and will accomplish great things.
We come now to the fourth and final animal – the lizard. What does he have to teach us?
First we read that the lizard is not the most intimidating of animals in the world. He can be grasped with the hands. His natural defenses are not very effective. Thus, he can be caught and grasped with a human hand. The lizard is not given a great deal of weapons at his disposal. The lizard spoken of here is usually the common ones that you seek on the walls in homes. He has no sharp claws or teeth – and the ones mentioned here have no venomous bite or sting to deliver. Yet we are told that he is in the palaces of the king.
The lesson for us is an interesting one. Though we may feel weak and defenseless, we can still be in high places. The lizard teaches us though that if we are to be in such places, we will need to be humble and come in such a way as is fitting for our situation. If the lizard were to come to the king’s palace and seek to knock down the door – he would be a fool. If he decided to battle his way into his presence with his great strength – he would be deluding himself. If he decided he would come showing his comeliness and beauty – he would be blind to the fact that he is a lizard. The lizard uses none of these tactics. Instead, he is humble and comes quietly. He remains on the wall and chooses not to be boisterous and draw attention to himself. Because this is how he comes – he can be in the presence of the king.
Exceedingly wise is the lizard, who embraces humility. Wise indeed he is to come quietly and without fanfare. Thus, he is in king’s palaces. Wise also is the man who in life chooses to humble himself, not just to be exalted, but who truly sees himself humbly. We are counselled to humble ourselves in the presence of the Lord, and he will exalt you (James 4:10). So be wise – be like a lizard – humble yourself – and be blessed by the Lord.
This week, learn from the animal kingdom. Work hard like the ant, seek the Rock like the hyrax, work with others like the locust, and stay humble like the lizard.
In His Hands,
John