Daily Devotional – March 2

Biology

For thousands of years, the bee’s honeycomb has fascinated man. Pappus of Alexandria, a third-century A.D. astronomer and mathematician, was intrigued by the honeycomb shape found inside of hives. He asked himself, “Why is the honeycomb cell six-sided? Why isn’t the honeycomb cell a circle, triangle, or square?”

Pappus found that the six-sided shape, the hexagon, holds more honey and takes less wax to produce than any other shape. It was not until modern calculus was invented over a thousand years later that the shape of the cap at the end of the honeycomb cell was analyzed. Each cell cap is a pyramid made of three rhombuses. This cap shape was found to require the smallest possible amount of wax for construction. Each bee knows how to build this type of cell and cap. Some say they are great engineers; however, it is the One who designed the programming that controls the honeybee who is really the great engineer. That would be Jesus!

My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste:

~ Proverbs 24:13

Source: "Pearls in Paradise" by authors Bruce Malone and Jule Von Vett

References for this devotional.