God’s smallest creatures, gathering for Winter

Ah! It’s October 1!

As usual, with a cup of Joe in hand and my dogs by my side, I stepped outside a little after 6 a.m. But this day, God had an unusual surprise waiting for me to discover.

The sun was just peeking over the horizon. The air was crisp, signaling that Fall is almost finally here and Winter is soon to follow.

As I sipped my coffee and praised God for the lovely weather, something caught my eye. I looked down and noticed a few black ants moving about on the patio, circling and darting about a recently deceased green worm. Yuck, right? Well, it was what these ants did next that captured my attention and got me to thinking about how awesome and amazing our God is.  These ants (God’s creation) worked together brilliantly and began to drag and carry the worm off, presumably to the ant den (see image below).

The Ant

I ran inside and grabbed my camera, snapped a few pics and captured a bit of video. I followed these ants for quite some time wondering where in the world the den was located as I could not readily find it. I stepped away for a while to water a few plants and came back to where I had last seen them carrying their prize–but they were nowhere to be found. I continued to look and sure enough–there they were. I was stunned at how far they had traveled in the few minutes I had been gone. I wanted to track them to see ultimately where they were taking the worm carcass and what they would ultimately do with it, but alas, my dogs were nudging me for their breakfast and well…I did have other things to do…fascinating as these little guys were. The way they maneuvered, dragging, lifting and carrying the worm–working together in complete harmony climbing over rocks and negotiating debris was just amazing to me.

I don’t recall anytime in my life where I actually took the time to observe ants–they are a revelation, which is a lesson for all of us in today’s rat race world where we seem to be far too busy to notice the smallest of God’s wonders and learn from them. What’s more, ants are given a prominent place in God’s Word as being “instructive” to us.

Proverbs 6: 6-8 reads:

Go to the ant, you sluggard;
    consider its ways and be wise!
It has no commander,
    no overseer or ruler,
yet it stores its provisions in summer
    and gathers its food at harvest.

An excellent bible commentary on the subject of these verses sets forth something to think about:

The teacher [of Proverbs 6:6-8], as it were, argues: If the ant, so insignificant a creature in the order of the animal kingdom, is so provident, how much more should you be – you, a man endued with superior intelligence, and with so many more resources at hand, and with greater advantages! If the ant, with none to urge, direct, or control her work, is so industrious, surely she provides an example at which you, the sluggard, should blush, since there is every external incentive to rouse you to action – your duty to the community, the urgent advice of your friends, and your dignity as a man. If she provides for the future, much more should you do so, and threw off your sloth.

What else does God’s Word have to say about the ant? Proverbs: 24 & 25, reads:

Four things are small on the earth,
But they are exceedingly wise:
The ants are not a strong people,
But they prepare their food in the summer;

Isn’t it interesting that the ants are referred to as a “people”? Together (or collectively) they work in an organized fashion, just as we should do.

They are but mere insects, yet they are exceeding wise; showing a great deal of art and wisdom in what they do. They are made wise by the instinct of nature, by the direction of Providence, by which they do things that are surprising.

How much God has to teach us through the meanest of His creation. All we need to do is stop and take notice. I’m so glad I did.

Through the observation of these tiny creatures today, I was blessed.