“There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise: 25 The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer; 26 The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks; 27 The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands; 28 The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings' palaces.” (Proverbs 30:24-28)
It is our human tendency to admire those with physical beauty and strength, and to despise those who are weak and insignificant. Agur applies this same principle to nature and the creatures of this world – “four things which are little upon the earth” (v 24) – which can teach us precious lessons.
Though these creatures may be small and insignificant in terms of size, they possess far greater wisdom than those that are many times larger. They are described not merely as wise, but as “exceeding wise”. Therefore, there is much to learn from these “four things which are little upon the earth” – the ants, the conies, the locusts and the spider.
The ants work as a collective unit towards a common goal (v 25). Though the size of their colony may be huge, ants are not strong when compared to other creatures. Their ant nests, for example, can be simply crushed by a stomp of our foot.
Despite their weakness, ants are masters at “preparing for a rainy day”. When food supplies dwindle in winter because of their sluggish movements, they are well-prepared with stores gathered earlier in the summer (Prov 6: 8). Though these tiny creatures have no one to guide or oversee their work, they labour relentlessly to provide for themselves. Ants know how take advantage of the right season so that they will have sufficient food for the winter.
The conies or rock rabbits are timid creatures that inhabit rocky terrains and crevices of boulders and rock formations (v 26). The wisdom of conies lies in their recognition of their weakness. Because they lack natural defense mechanisms, they are easy prey for predators. Conscious of their vulnerability, they know how to keep themselves safe from preying animals that can easily overcome them.
When feeding together, conies rely on one another for protection. One or more will act as a sentry. When danger approaches, the sentries will sound an alarm and their companions will swiftly retreat to the rocks for refuge where their predators like dogs, wolves and foxes cannot follow them. As long as they stay among the rocks, they will be kept safe.
Locusts are solitary creatures that avoid contact with each other. However, when overcrowding occurs and contact is made with each other, their nervous systems release a hormone which causes them to be attracted to one another. This reaction also causes the locusts to change colour, eat more and breed faster. Over time, what started out as scattered bands, will become one cohesive, united band.
Locusts “have no king” (v 27). Yet they can advance together in ranks as if clear instructions have been disseminated beforehand. Their wisdom is seen in their unity, order and discipline. Swarms of locusts are known to devour the land till nothing else is left. This phenomenon results in locust plagues that can wipe out crops and cause famines which we hear of occasionally in the news.
The spider is a small but wise creature. Her web can be found “in kings’ palaces” as well as in the poorest homes (v 28). Spiders are known for their diligence and perseverance. The flimsy webs they spin are easily destroyed. But this does not deter them from weaving new ones again and again. With their silky webs, spiders trap flies and other small insects for food.
Conclusion
To many, these four creatures may seem weak and contemptible. But our Almighty God Who created them can use them to teach us precious lessons of industry and foresight (v 25), safety (v 26), order, unity and discipline (v 27), and diligence and perseverance (v 28).
Despite their feebleness, these humble creatures, guided by divine providence, act wisely for their own preservation and survival. May we be reminded not to despise “the day of small things” (Zech 4: 10) nor treat the poor and insignificant with contempt: “But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29 That no flesh should glory in his presence” (I Cor 1: 27-29). Let us be willing and open to learn even from these meanest of God’s creatures.
– Bro Kelvin Li