Bible Passage:  Proverbs 30

The Book of Proverbs contains many wise words for us to ponder about as well as to take heed. After all, it is also part of God’s Word. In this very chapter, I shall focus on a few selected verses that drew my attention and made me reflect for a while.

 “Four things on earth are small, but they are exceedingly wise: the ants are a people not strong, yet they provide their food in the summer; the rock badgers are a people not mighty, yet they make their homes in the cliffs; the locusts have no king, yet all of them march in rank; the lizard you can take in your hands, yet it is in kings ‘palaces.” – Proverbs 30:24-28

As mentioned, these four earthly creatures are good examples for me and for us to learn from, considering their ways as described in this chapter.

The ANTS

According to the Bible, ants are wise and prudent creatures. They may look tiny and weak, but they display their wisdom and hardworking nature by preparing their food in the summer, seeking for it and storing it for autumn or spring, when food becomes a necessity. Even Proverbs 6:6-8 praises the laborious ways of the ant.

“Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest.” – Proverbs 6:6-8

This suggests we ought to learn to be hardworking and prudent, like the ants.

The ROCK BADGERS

Rock Badgers look like rodents, but are not classified as one. Instead digging burrows on the ground like the rabbits, they have found a way to survive within their own community. That is, to build their homes made of rocks in the cliffs. Cliffs are hostile terrains where predators are scarce in number, yet these rock badgers have excellent communication network within their community.

This suggests that while it is important to build a house that stands on rock solid foundation, we must not forget to have a sense of community spirit to look out for one another in love and acceptance, as well as to keep one another out of dangerous predators (the devil himself). Furthermore, while we are living at the edge of the world (i.e. the dangerous cliff), we need to trust God that our house made of rock will stand.

The LOCUSTS

Locusts, like rock badgers, work together as a community. Despite not having a leader (Proverbs 30:27), the locusts are able to move in one direction, all at once. This concept is largely similar to that of the rock badgers, which probably indicates the importance of working together as one body for God.

The LIZARDS

Some bible versions called this the “spiders” instead of the “lizards”. However, in the Hebrew version, the word “lizard” was referred to and described as a small poisonous animal. I will use “lizard” since it is found in my ESV Bible version.

A lizard is in a very risky position. It can be easily killed by other bigger animals including humans when detected. Yet despite being vulnerable and small in size, the lizard can be found in the king’s palace.

What can the lizard teach us?