The Wonders of God’s Creation
“Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, prideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.” Proverbs 6:6-86Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: 7Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, 8Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest. (Proverbs 6:6‑8).
Ants in many areas find abundant food the year-round and do not need to store it. But many others do, among them the “Harvester Ants.” They use vegetables and seeds as their main source of food, but also add termites, insects and other things to their diet.
To be sure they have plenty to eat in the wintertime, these ants “provide their meat in the summer.” They collect seeds and store them in special chambers within their nests. Certain workers are assigned to this specific duty. When the seed is brought home the husks are removed and carried outside to a garbage pile. If any of the seeds begin to spoil or sprout while in storage, they are immediately removed. This food supply is guarded very carefully. No ant would think of robbing the store while there is still food to be had outside.
If some seeds become damp while in storage, the ants promptly take them outside to dry in the sun. When dry they are brought back into storage.
Since the ants are not able to swallow solid food, God has given them a means of changing dry seeds into what is known as “ant bread.” This is produced by first chewing the seeds, then making a little pile of this chewed food, and covering it with juices from its digestive system. This makes it liquid enough to sip into its stomach.
All of this, of course, is God’s order for these little creatures, which He refers to as being “exceeding wise.” The Word of God uses them as an example for ourselves, telling us also to prepare for the future. There is more meaning for us in such a lesson than only storing up food for our stomachs. God urges us to think of a coming eternity and to prepare for it now, before the “summer” of our lives is past.
The sorrow of those who fail to provide for their eternal fate is heard in the awful cry: “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved"! Jeremiah 8:2020The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved. (Jeremiah 8:20). Do not let this be your cry. You must realize you are a sinner and in need of a Saviour. By faith you have to accept His work on Calvary’s cross to wash away your sins “while it is called To-day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.” Hebrews 3:1313But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. (Hebrews 3:13).
ML-10/12/1980