Consider the Ants

Wisdom From Nature's Smallest Workers

Every day this summer, I have noticed that thousands of ants would walk close together along the pathway in front of our building.

In the morning, they would venture from their nest and journey across our front steps. They would gather the heads of dried grass and carry them back.

Around 11 am, they would stop. When the area became shaded again, the ants were back out, collecting the grass until nightfall.

I was intrigued by watching the ants. They had a routine. They stayed on the same path.

Pulling out a smartphone, I zoomed in close to the ants and took pictures. I filmed them eating sesame seeds. I was able to get close enough to watch their mouths biting the seeds.

Ants are an incredible part of Creation!

My Drawing

After taking some pictures, I was inspired to try sketching an ant on its daily journey.

I started by drawing the ant. Its body was glossy, so I wanted to capture the reflection of light.

I drew the gravel around the ant. Sketching and shading.

I haven’t drawn something like this before, so I was quite happy with the finished sketch.

A Lesson on Perseverance

By sketching the ant, I took time to appreciate the small things around me. We are told in Proverbs to consider the ants.

Proverbs 6:6-8 Go to the ant, you lazy one! See her ways and be wise, which, having no commander, overseer, or ruler, provides her supplies in the summer, gathers her food in the harvest.

Proverbs tells us to see the ways of the ant and how they work hard for their supplies and food. A few paces across the yard for us is a big distance for the ants. Yet, they persevere to get their work done.

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Proverbs 30:24-25 There are four matters 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.

Again, Proverbs states that ants are very wise. These little creatures, often ignored by us, prepare in the summer for the coming winter.

As sojourners, we can learn a lesson from the ants. It is wise to prepare for what is coming—heat, cold, war, and famine. We, too, need to make the long journey ahead of us and persevere onward to get our needs met.

Praise YHWH for his creation and the wisdom of ants which He placed around the entire world, for all sojourners (except for those living in Antarctica), to watch and consider.

Let me know your thoughts in the comments. What do you find intriguing about ants?

Fun fact: Ants can lift 50 times their body weight. They’re often considered the strongest animals on Earth.