THE CLEVER CONIES

GREAT LESSONS FROM CONTEMPTABLE CREATURES
“THE FEEBLE, YET WISE ROCK BADGER”
(PROVERBS 30: 24, 26)

Intro:
I’m sure that you parents can relate to the following story. Two brothers came to their mother asking if they could have a hamster. Well, the mother didn’t think it to be a good idea, because she knew who would end up taking care of the creature. However, as millions have done before her, she bought in to the idea that her kids would feed it, water it, and clean up after it. The hamster was purchased, and after two weeks, mom became the full-time provider for the animal.
One day, mom decided that it was time for the hamster to find a new home. So, she told the boys that Danny, for so they had named the beast, would soon be leaving home. The boys actually took Danny’s departure better than she thought they would. One brother said, “Yeah, he has been around here for a long time, it is probably time for him to go.” Mom replied, “Yes he has been around here for a while, and he is just too much for one person to care for alone.” The other brother then chimed in and said, “Well, maybe if he didn’t eat so much and weren’t so messy we could have kept him.” Mom said, “Yes, maybe, but now it is time for Danny to go to his new home.” The children with shocked looks on their faces then shouted, “Danny! We thought you said Daddy!”
You will recall that last Sunday morning we began our sermon series examining the four wise creatures found in the book of Proverbs. In our first lesson, we noticed the little ant. We discovered that though he is small in stature, he is mighty in wisdom. This week, we want to continue with the next creature found in Proverbs 30: 26. There we are told: “The Conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks.”
The first question which we need to answer is, “what is a Conie?” According to the research which I conducted, the Conie is a cross between a rabbit and a wood chuck. Another name for the Conie is, “Rock Badger.” The Hebrew word for the Rock Badger means “The Hider”, owing to the way in which they make their homes in rocky areas.
Tonight, as we continue with our series, we want to consider this special creature. We want to try to discover what it is that God wanted us to see in terms of its wisdom. Join me as we look closer at the feeble, yet wise Rock Badger.

I. THE FEEBLENESS OF THE ROCK BADGER

As with the ant, Solomon makes a very interesting statement here in the beginning of verse 26. “The conies are but a feeble folk.” Have you ever stopped to consider the true meaning of the word, “FEEBLE?” According to Marion Webster’s Online Dictionary, the word Feeble is defined as:
“Marketable lacking in strength, devoid of qualities or resources that indicate vigor.” Some of the synonyms for feeble are, inadequate, inferior, and weak. To say the very least, being called feeble isn’t a good thing.
Here in Proverbs, Solomon, by the inspiration of God, says that these animals are marketably lacking in strength, devoid of qualities or resources that indicate vigor. He is saying that these creatures are inadequate, inferior, and weak.
Yet, despite this harsh pronouncement, we still find them listed in the section which states that there are four things little upon the earth, but exceeding wise. That means that there has to be something else to this idea of feebleness. There has to be another idea hiding under the surface.
If you believe this, then you are indeed correct. You see, the rock badger suffers with the same thing which you and me struggle with day to day. We are both small creatures, who cannot survive on our own. This rock badger needs a place of shelter into which he can hide from his enemies. He has to hide in the rocks, in order that he might survive.
Are you and I not the exact same way? Do not we struggle with the issues of life? How can we make it? Simple, God is here for us.
Look at Phil 4: 13. There we find one of the great affirmations of all time. “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” First, I need to show you the feebleness of man, which we can see in this verse. Notice again what it says, “I can do all things THROUGH Christ who gives me strength.” Did you catch it? IF you don’t have Christ, then you have no hope. If you don’t have him, then you can do nothing. Without him, you are the feeble rock badger without the rocks.
Just consider this. Without God, Elijah wouldn’t have stood a chance against the false prophets of Baal, who were 850 in number! (1Kings 18: 19) Without God, the Apostles would have been lost at sea! (Mark 4: 37-41) Without God, Jesus couldn’t have been raised from the dead! (Acts 2: 24)
As for you and I, we must have God just as much today! We cannot hope to defeat the enemies of the Lord if we do not put our feeble selves in his hand! If we do not place our feeble, fragile selves in his loving hands, then we will be lost in the sea of this world! If we do not have God on our side, and in our corner, then we have no hope of eternal life, because we are a feeble people!

II. WE SHOULD ALSO NOTICE THE HOUSES WHICH THEY MADE.

There is something very interesting about these creatures. Not only are they feeble, but they also have a great deal of ingenuity. Notice this, they are small creatures, and therefore, they can easily be devoured by creatures that are larger, not to mention meaner than them. So, they build their homes in places that their enemies will have trouble breaking in! They protect their homes, and therefore protect their future!
Folks, we need to learn this lesson from these small yet, wise creatures! We too are small in the big scheme of things! We also need a place of refuge from our enemies! In point of fact, we already have such a place. Paul called it, “The church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth!” (1Tim 3: 15)
Here’s the problem. We are taking that pillar and ground of the truth, and we are watching it fade away. Just last year, The Barna Group, a California based research organization, conducted a study which revealed that 61% of adults in their 20’s had at some point attended church services. However, at the time of the study, those same individuals stated that they no longer attend church, read the Bible, nor pray. Now, to be fair, the Church of Christ is doing slightly better than the denominational world.
Studies have shown that around one-third of the youth in the Church drop out at some point, and never return. About 12% of young people do at some point leave the church, but will return, often after they themselves have gotten married and had children. Regardless what the numbers show, there is a problem, and we need to find the solution.
How do we fix this problem? I would suggest to you that we need to rebuild the walls. Consider with me for just a moment the feeble little Rock Badger, or Coni. This animal understands that it needs the protection of its home. It will need to hide itself away in order to find safety from those who would seek to destroy it.
Brethren, as we illustrated for you in our previous lesson, there are those who are seeking to tare down the Church of our Lord and savior today. If we don’t begin rebuilding these walls, then we are finished!
Well, let’s ask the question which must be on your mind. How do we rebuild the walls of the Church? How do we repair the damage that has been done?
If you will, turn with me to the book of Nehemiah. For those who don’t know, Nehemiah was written by the king's cupbearer. The purpose of the book of Nehemiah was to recount the rebuilding of the wall surrounding Jerusalem following the Babylonian exile. Brethren, if you want to know how to rebuild and refortify the walls which make up the house of the Lord, then we should consult how Nehemiah accomplished the task.
The first thing Nehemiah did, and therefore the first thing that we must do, is acknowledge that there is a problem. Notice in Nehemiah 1: 2, that he asks after his fellow Jews, and the city of Jerusalem. Now, when he is told in verse 3 that those that remain are suffering and that the walls of Jerusalem have been torn down and the gates burned, he does something interesting. He sees the problem and doesn’t try to deny its existence. In verse 4, we see his acceptance. The Bible tells us that he wept, mourned, and fasted. This is a man who didn’t try to deny the evidence which had been placed before him. Instead he, as we say today, owned it.
Brethren, we must do the same. It is time for us to stop saying that there is no problem. Folks, there is an entire generation that is missing out on a relationship with the Lord, and they aren’t coming back! Let’s acknowledge what is ahead of us.
Secondly, Nehemiah prayed. Notice again verse 4. Not only did he weep, mourn, and fast: but most importantly of all, he went to God in prayer.
Brethren, I don’t know about you, but this problem scares me out of my mind! This problem worries me night and day. With that being said, I also understand that worry will not help. (Matthew 6: 34) Instead, we should take all our worries, cares, and concerns to God in prayer. (Philippians 4: 6) When we do this: when we go to God and say, “I need your help!” When we do this, he will give us his peace. (Philippians 4: 7)
Finally, we need to work together. One of the most beautiful, yet often overlooked, passages in scripture is Nehemiah chapter 3. There we see the work being done. There we see the solution in action. What is wonderful about that account is that they worked together. Notice how the phrase “Next unto them” occurs over and over again. Folks, that phrase is reminding us that side by side they labored!
This is how we need to be if we are to rebuild and refortify the walls of God’s house. It is time for us to stop working against each other, and instead work “Next Unto Them.” Brethren, please remember, “There is one body, and one spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling.” (Ephesians 4: 4) Remember, he is the one true vine, we are his branches. (John 15: 5) However, if the branches of the tree attack one another, the tree will die!
Brethren, let us emulate that wise rock badger, and rely on God for our nurture! Let us build our walls so great that the world will stand no chance against God’s people!