SABBATH FRAGRANCES«Four things on earth are small, yet they are extremely wise: Ants are creatures of little strength, yet they store up their food in the summer» (Proverbs 30:24, 25).
Each Sabbath this month we’ll read a little from this list of four things Agur, son of Jakeh, declared. The first ones on the list are ants. There are around 14 thousand species. They live in colonies or ant hills that vary in size and strength, but they’ re known for being very organized. The way ants divide tasks, communicate and solve problems makes them unique in the world. No wonder they source of inspiration and an example to many humans who, with admiration, see these infinitely smaller beings working with determination, no matter what.
There are many literary works that portray them as the main characters. Since they’re very different depending on the part of the world they live
I don’t know what the author is truly referring to when he mentions they lack strength.
But when I read this verse, I remembered one summer night in which I observed them for half an hour.
One night at midnight it was very hot and I couldn’t sleep. I decided to go out. They were strolling through my sidewalk as if it was five p.m.
I saw several of them boasting their strength, carrying leaves that were or four times their size. I imagined myself doing the same and just about that made me laugh. It’s really admirable how they somehow place that load on their backs.
But there was one that tried to go down a path for ten minutes and was unable to. It would fall sideways time and again because of the weight of the leaf it had chosen. Even though it would get up and try again, it would inevitably fall and be unable to move ahead more than an inch. It caught my attention and I saw that, at a certain point, it made the decision not to ruin its existence, to abandon the leaf midway down the path and keep on moving several yards forward as if nothing had happened, free from its load.
I really saw it struggle. I didn’t consider it was weak because it had chosen to set aside a load it couldn’t bear.
Perhaps today, as we begin the Sabbath, you’re still carrying around the heavy burdens of the week (months or years) that are weakening you greatly. Jesus invites you to set your burden at his feet.
It’s okay if we also sometimes consider ourselves «creatures of little strength.»
