A Faith Lesson from the African Impala

But the Lord said to Joshua, “I have given you Jericho, its king, and all its strong warriors. You and your fighting men should march around the town once a day for six days. Seven priests will walk ahead of the Ark, each carrying a ram’s horn. On the seventh day you are to march around the town seven times, with the priests blowing the horns. When you hear the priests give one long blast on the rams’ horns, have all the people shout as loud as they can. Then the walls of the town will collapse, and the people can charge straight into the town.” (Joshua 6:2-5 NLT)


It is a fact that the African impala can jump over 10 feet and at a jump cover a distance of over 30 feet. How possible is it then that these extremely versatile animals can be kept in a zoo with only a 3-foot tall wall surrounding them? Here's the explanation. The impala will not jump if they are unable to see the spot where their feet will land. So, even though they can jump several feet higher than the wall surrounding them in the zoo, they do not jump because the 3-foot wall obstructs their sight of the outside where freedom waits. Because they cannot see, they do not jump, even though they could. Hence they remain limited.

What an illustration of the order of faith. It is a popular saying that "seeing is believing." This is the wrong order. When it comes to faith in God, the believing and action comes before the seeing. In our text, we see the order of faith clearly spelt out by God. First is the provision. God said " I have given you..." He did not say, " I will give you..." It was a done deal. It was an accomplished fact. So, faith begins with God's gift. It originates from God's promise. Faith takes its roots from an accomplished provision of Grace.

Second in order is the practice. What God promised and provided by grace must always be followed by believing action by the recipient of the grace. Israel had to march around the city of Jericho even though it was already theirs by grace. Grace demands and deserves believing action. This is the way grace is appropriated. After action then comes the possession, when the thing provided by grace becomes the experience of the recipient.

See this order in salvation( the full package of all Jesus brought to earth):

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God"— (Ephesians 2:8 NIV)

First Grace planned, appeared, died, rose again and provided. Then we believe and act through grace, then the promise of Grace becomes a living reality in our lives. This is the order of Grace. God gives, you march and shout, the walls fall and then the city is yours. Don't wait to experience with your physical senses before you act on the word of God. Practice the word of Grace and then you will see. You do not want to be locked up like the impala for not jumping because you cannot see the landing spot. Take your eyes of the limiting walls of circumstances surrounding you because you have the capacity to soar by grace. If Grace has promised in his word, He has provided. Act and the walls will either be scaled or they will crumble like Jericho's.

Decision of the Day

I walk by faith and not by sight. I have things in the correct order. I do not see to believe but believe and see. I will act in faith on the provisions of Grace. The walls will crumble and I will possess the promise.