Proverbs 30 verse 24… “There are four things which are little upon the earth but they are exceedingly wise etc. “I was thinking a little about the ants. The ants have a limited amount of strength but the Lord saw fit to create the ants like that. The Lord gave to different parts of -His creation different amounts of strength as it pleased Him. I am so thankful today that the Lord has given us strength and He knows how much strength we have and what we can do with the strength He has given us.
In our field there are only three who gather together in a Sunday Morning Meeting and all three are illiterate. One sister gave her testimony and told of the cricket and the ant. The ant knew it was dry season time and so gathered some food – went backwards and forwards to gather the food to store away, but the cricket just enjoying itself – and chirping away. Then the cricket came to the ant.. “Is there anything for me?” “No, there is nothing for you. The time is past!” This was her testimony and she said that she wanted to be like the ant, to gather in when there is time. I just thought of the ant having only a limited amount of strength, but when there is time to gather in it gets busy. It is exceeding wise! Maybe with the understanding that we have; there has to be a lot of wisdom and the Lord planning it so.
Have you ever seen an antheap with one ant? Never! They all work together. There is unity and co-operation. The Lord made it so that they can all co-operate. We see one coming out and one going in. Even in ourselves; our strength is not always the same. There was the time when we were carried; someone had to take care of us and clothe and feed us and the time when we could walk and then got stronger and the fullness of strength, but then the time comes when the strength becomes weaker again and the strength goes. That is the cycle of life. The Lord making it so that in the situation there are those who care, and the cycle goes round. There is harmony and unity and the need of those who care for one another.
The thought of a little strength and a little time, but we can use our strength like the ant. Maybe the ant is feeble, but the ant does not think that way, it just goes on and on, and when it comes to something five or six times it’s size, the ant wants to move that and does something about it which is right and good. It does not seem reasonable to try and move something five time it’s size, but another ant comes and then another one and a number of ants get together and just going on; moving it and getting it to safe keeping. Just the thought, how do we think about our strength? Do we understand that the Lord has given us this strength and what He has planned to accomplish in us and others also trying to help. There is unity and co-operation. When we think of the ants coming back from their gathering, I am sure there is communication one with the other. We sometimes see an army of ants crossing the road and they walk together and moving from one, place to another, and in the middle the smaller ones but all walking together for there are dangers for ants in the road.
One evening speaking in a Gospel Meeting in our field in Benin, I felt a stinging in my knee and here was a little ant. Maybe it thought I was an enemy and with that limited amount of strength it was using it and what do we do with the little bit of strength; are we defending ourselves? The ant was inconspicuous yet always busy and very much a part of God’s creation. How good if we can realise the measure of our strength and there can be harmony and unity and God’s plan can be accomplished. Nehemiah was one who considered the plan of God and what God wanted to accomplish. His people were in captivity in Babylon and the Lord wanted to turn the captivity and free them. The thought of God knowing how little strength the People had and yet the Lord used different ones in that great plan.
Daniel understood by books that the seventy years would be accomplished and he began to pray in sackcloth and ashes. He understood that the time was nearing that there would be liberty. He did his little part in praying and asking the Lord for deliverance and the Lord heard his prayer.
Haggai also had a little part in God’s plan. He said to Josedech and to all the people of the land … “Be strong, for the Lord is with you!” They received strength and could go forward and accomplish the Will of god. We know the measure of our strength, but how good to help and encourage one another to see what this great plan of God is and that we have a part in it, and we can be strong to do our part.
We see where Nehemiah was found… He was the cup bearer of the king. He heard of the destruction and the gates being burnt and the walls all being broken down and it made him very sad and distressed and he began to pray. One man so very far away and he had his job and his work as the cup bearer of the king… serving another king and yet and yet beginning to pray in that situation. Think of what one man can do through prayer!
The Lord stirring up their spirits and putting things in their hearts so that the Lord can accomplish His plan. The Lord can stir up our spirits too and put things into our hearts so that he will be able to do His work even if there is such a limited amount of strength.
I remember once one of our brothers needed a passport and we went to try and help. There was a man behind the desk but no one was co-operating. We asked the superior … “Is there no one helping?” Then we knew a friend who knew someone high up and he could help in the situation. We are so thankful that we can pray to the God of Heaven and He can help. We can speak to a Higher Power.
Nehemiah wept, mourned, fasted and prayed. He was praying for mercy in the sight of the king. Nehemiah’s countenance was sad and the king asked … “Why is thy countenance sad? This is nothing else but sorrow of heart… For what doth thou make a request? So I prayed to the God of Heaven.” He asked for a letter to be given him to the govenors etc. The letter was given to him and provision made for him to go and review the walls of the city. Wonderful that one with so little strength; yet he could do and accomplish that work. He says.. “I did not tell anyone what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem.” He had something in his heart that he wanted to accomplish. He went by night and saw that others did not know. Then he went to the elders and the rulers and told them what was in his heart and about the Hand of God that was good upon him. They said… “Let us rise up and build.”, so they strengthened their hands for this good work Nehemiah had told them what weas in his heart and they were strengthened to rise up and built.
The enemies said what will these feeble Jews do? They were feeble because of the false report but Nehemiah was able to strengthen them to go ahead and build. The enemies said; “Will they revive the stones out of the heap of rubbish? Something that was a hindrance to their work; ‘twas the rubbish and that had to be taken away and thrown out. How good that the rubbish can be taken out. We think of a bee hive and all work together. There are bees that clean the hive and bringing things out and throwing then away. There is no rubbish in a bee hive.
It speaks about the different ones that built the wall. The priests that built the sheep gate and the different ones that helped. There were the Gold Smiths who maybe did not know much about bricks and mortar, but they also had something to do and were willing to do it. There were those who built over against their own house. How good that the walls are in good condition over against our own house. Maybe we think about the walls of someone else’s house, but, but everyone built over against HIS OWN HOUSE. How thankful we are that no matter where we are that we can build the walls so that it could be in a good condition.
The enemies tried to hinder them and wanted them to stop the work.
Just the thought that they could have listened to the enemy and so could have weakened their hands, but how good that they listened to the right sound. It was a great work, working together even though not a lot of strength.
The bridges had to be closed. Maybe the enemy has gone in before where there had been an opening. The bridges are a protection and safety in a city. In chapter 5 the enemy conspired to come in and hinder them building but they made their prayer unto their God and set a watch against them. Everyone working together and setting each other free.
Just this little thought; in some homes they have a wood box and someone has to keep the box clean. When younger that was our job, and also to bring in water. We know the wood was used for the burnt offering. If no wood how can there be an offering? But if everyone can bring the wood the offering can go on.
We are so thankful for the plan of the Lord, that even with the little strength all that we can accomplish and be a strength to one another for we need tone another and we can all rejoice together and there can be harmony and unity and we would like to do our part. So that the Work of the Lord can be accomplished in our day.
Truth Archive 