Recently, my wife Sangeetha and I were watching the movie, the Ant Bully with Reuben, our three year old son and this piqued his interests to find out more about ants. This led to a barrage of questions, such as “Are ants good?”, “Are they bad?”, “Will they hurt us?”, “Are the black ants good and the red ants bad?”, yada yada yada … As we struggled hard to slake his inquisitive mind, it gave us a perfect opportunity to talk to him, about what the Bible said about ants and we came up with three things.

  1. Ants are hard working creatures. They are not lazy and they plan in advance (Proverbs 6:6-8)
    Even God plans. The Bible says that God has plans for you, to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11); It should therefore not be incredible that one of God’s creations, irrespective of its size, has the same ability to plan for a rainy day in advance; How much more, we the apex of God’s creation should do likewise as well?
  2. Ants are not strong,  yet they know how to protect (scouts and soldier ants) and provide (foragers) food for the colony (Proverbs 30:25)
    Some scientists, entomologists and others object to this Bible verse that “ants are not strong”  by saying that ants can carry items many times heavier than what is their body size. While this is true, it however does not negate what the Bible says about ants as not being strong creatures. Two ways to look at the infallibility of the Bible are
    1. Strength in comparison to other creatures of God. In comparison, ants are not stronger than other creatures (you, the animals, the birds, the fish etc). and
    2. This should only bring awe in our minds the evokes praise that God in his brilliance created a creature (the ant) that though it is not strong, it can carry loads many times heavier than it body size.  What is more important to realize is that, it is not the strong that always win the battle (Eccl 9:11). David was not as strong as Goliath but the battle belonged to the Lord and David was on the Lord’s side. If you feel you are feeble, look at the ants and marvel at the God who created it and who makes the weak strong. Jesus said, if you are weak and heavy laden, come to me and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28-29).
  3. Ants are wise
    As is evident with our observance of ants, entomologists report that ants live a social life and have ranks – queen, soldiers, scouts, foragers, workers etc … The infallible Bible reports that ants have not guide, overseer or ruler and this is true. None of the ranks observed play the role of a guide, overseer or ruler and yet they know how to be orderly. This is known to be because they are known to be effective communicators. They are wise. Did you notice in a colony of ants, there is no King, only a queen. Their ruler (King) is God. Our allegiance to follow the ruler of the universe (God) and communication amongst people (neighbors) must be the same as well.

Point(s) to ponder:

  • Go to the ant; consider her ways, and be wise:

Proverbs 6:6-8
6 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: 7 Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, 8 Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.

Proverbs 30:25
25 The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer;

Matthew 11:28-29 (Words of Jesus)
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.