The Lessons – Proverbs 30:24-28 “There are four things which are little on the earth, but they are exceedingly wise. The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their food in the summer; the rock badgers are a feeble folk, yet they make their homes in the crags; the locusts have no king, yet they all advance in ranks; the lizard skilfully grasps with its hands, and it is in kings’ palaces.”

Proverbs 30:24-28 teach about four weak things (Ants, Coneys {Badgers}, Locusts, and Lizards), and the greatness of each. At the first glance, no one would anticipate great accomplishments from these four little Creatures (Ants, Badgers {Coneys}, Locusts & Lizards), but each illustration from nature contains an importance lesson, to amplify the theme that size does not count nearly as much as wisdom. Each of the creature portrays a different aspect of wisdom in action.

The lesson to be learned from “the wisdom,” of these four creatures (Ants, Badgers {Coneys}, Locusts and Lizards) is that wisdom is defined by the ability to recognise one’s problems and limitations and then set about to compensate for the problems and limitations. The Ants, the Coneys {Badgers}, the Locusts, and the Lizards all have certain limitations, but in each case, each of this creature sets about overcoming its problem/limitation with its solution

The four creatures that are mentioned all illustrate the wonderful way in which the disadvantages of weakness may be overcome by some countervailing quality. These four creatures who, in spite of their size, are possessed of attributes that serve as a source of instruction for us.

The Word of God teaches that “the weak things of the world confounding the things which are mighty” (1Corinthians 1:27). Now we have illustrations from nature for the same principle. Each one of the four creatures teaches us its own special lesson, as each conquers its weakness by same separate and distinctive quality:

• The Ants – Wisdom of Preparation by Foresight. The ant models the advisability of carefully planning ahead to meet future contingencies. Ant teaches us about preparation.
• The Coneys (Badgers) – the Necessity of Protection – Three Basics of Survival. Hebrew (shapan) means “hider” The animal is named for its habit of living in the cleft of rocks. The resourcefulness that gains for him a high degree of security. The Coney (Badger) teaches us about wise building.
• The Locusts – Unity & Power by organisation. It models organisation and discipline. The locust realises it cannot stand alone but needs to gather together with others for self-preservation. The locust teaches us about cooperation and order.
• The Lizards – Victory of Perseverance by Quiet Persistency, by trying again and again to reach it goal. It models the use of resource beyond one’s own to enhance one’s security and enjoyment of life. The Lizard is about fearlessness.

In an age where brilliant thinking and high technology are admired, it is good to hear again the importance of basic virtues like careful planning (Ant), wise choosing (Coney {Badger}), community loyalty (Locust), and dogged persistence (Lizard). The Bible says that wisdom is the chief thing: (a) Wisdom will generate finance; (b) Wisdom will gather friends; (c) Wisdom will build our home – Proverbs 16:16 says that wisdom is better than gold. Ecclesiastes 9:16 says that wisdom is better than strength.

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