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 [rock badgers] are but 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 takes hold with her hands, and is in kings’ palaces.
Creation has something to teach us about the ways of God. If you were to come upon a room decorated in a certain way, you would learn something about the decorator, her likes and dislikes. You would get a glimpse into the personality of the person who keeps the room. In a similar sense, you can pick up some things about the ultimate Designer by the design He has hardwired into His creation.
So what can we learn from the ants, the rock badgers, the locusts, and the spiders? They are all amazing creatures, considering the fact that they do not have the intelligence of the human brain. They are all feeble, insignificant creatures. The rock badger has almost no way to defend itself except by hiding in the rocks. Colonies of these rodents will set sentries to watch for predators, and upon the appointed signal, these little guys scurry back into the clefts of the rocks. Because of their uncanny ability to hide, they are practically impossible for any predator to capture. Equipped with the wisdom God has provided these animals, they all survive and thrive, and populate the earth!
Somehow we are led to think that wisdom always accompanies powerful institutions and corporations. But God can give an insignificant little family economy special insight into the design or manufacture of an amazing product that thousands of people will find helpful. Very often, it is the poor, wise man that saves the city (Eccl. 9:14–16). However, nobody remembers this poor man whose wisdom saved the city, and great monuments are built for a few fools who take the credit for saving the city. While great empires collapse and the glory of Rome, Spain, France, England, and America fades away, there are pockets of wisdom to be found in the corners of these kingdoms. Quietly, the kingdom of God works here and there like yeast in a loaf of bread. While the pseudo-wisdom of this world ignores, despises, or even persecutes those who embrace the foolishness of the cross, in the end God brings to nothing this worldly wisdom (1 Cor. 1:19–21). Perhaps you thought that there would be wisdom in the universities or in the great palaces. But sometimes you will find it where you least expect it—in some obscure corner of the empire with the spider and a humble Christian family.
As men attempt to escape reality and ignore God, it is not long before they lose that sense of wide-eyed wonder. Sadly, many schoolchildren find the science class boring, especially if it is delivered in a cold, academic setting. If you find yourself unimpressed by the most complex, the most intelligent, and the grandest elements of God’s creation, sometimes it is better to go back to the simple things. Take a few hours and observe what God has done in the creation of the amazing little ant and the locust. Study the simpler creation and nurture a little wonder there first. Then you will learn to marvel at the grandest works of God in creation and providence.
1. Why is it easy to miss the little things that retain so much wisdom? Why do we have a hard time being impressed by God’s creation?
2. What are the four insignificant little aspects of God’s creation that are endowed with a good amount of wisdom?
3. Who was the man who saved the city in Ecclesiastes 9, and how does that tie into this passage?
4. Is the wisdom of God’s Word, the church of Jesus Christ, and the cross of Christ given much recognition in the most powerful courts, the most powerful board rooms, and the most powerful legislatures in nations today? Why or why not?