A thin black line of ants marched under the back door and towards the dog’s food. They had been disrupted by the recent torrent of California rain (.02”) and were finding new paths. Fortunately, I caught them early in their trek and simply moved their newly found treasure to the lawn. That kept those busy scout ants from returning. A good rabbi would take a moment like this to teach his disciples, for this is what God has put in our path today.
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
Ants are always on the move. I’ve never seen one just hanging around relaxing in the sunlight. There is food to be gathered and a community to sustain. The ants communicate efficiently with each other through touch and smell due to their close proximity with each other. Once a food source is found, the colony workers haul it back and a new search begins.
In Proverbs, Solomon directs us to observe God’s creation and gain wisdom. While not welcome in my home, ants do give an observable lesson in diligence and preparedness. They also depict the power of community.
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. Proverbs 30:24-25
No individual ant can accomplish much, but by working together, they are able to provide for a whole colony through lean seasons and multiple generations.
God’s truth is all around us. I want to stay alert to what He wants to teach me today.
What has God put in your path today? As your child’s rabbi, are you showing them?
