Fast on Foot

“One man of you shall chase a thousand, for the Lord your God is He who fights for you, as He promised you.” [Joshua 23:10]

What can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in three seconds? I’m not describing a car but an animal. The cheetah is the fastest land animal on Earth and has been clocked at speeds up to 75 mph in short bursts. This large cat lives in most of Africa and parts of the Middle East. It measures 30 inches tall at the shoulder and weighs between 110 and 140 pounds. The cheetah lives about 10-15 years and loves the open plains, where it mostly hunts for antelope.

We think of lions as majestic and leopards as ferocious, but the lean cheetah is elegant and graceful. It’s been referred to as the “greyhound” of cats. It is smaller than its bigger cat sisters, but much faster. A cheetah is aerodynamically built for speed. It has long, slim, muscular legs that can spring instantly into action. A small, rounded head, long neck, deep chest, and flexible spine help as well. Interestingly, it has non-retractable claws (sort of like cleats) and special pads on its feet for superb traction. Even its long tail (about 28 inches) gives it extra balance in chasing game.

A cheetah will stalk its prey by getting as close as possible before bursting into full speed. It relies on tall grass to camouflage itself. As it comes close it will reach out and trip the animal (usually antelope) with its front paw and then grab it by the throat. Actually, only about half the chases are successful and only last for about 20-60 seconds. The cheetah eats its kill quickly since there are other bigger carnivores that will steal its food.

The Bible tells how King Saul chased David into the wilderness, seeking to destroy him. He writes, “When the wicked came against me to eat up my flesh, my enemies and foes, they stumbled and fell” (Psalm 27:2). Satan seeks to trip us while pursuing us, but like David, we can be confident in God’s protection. The primary focus of this Psalm is finding refuge in the sanctuary. We too can find safety in the tabernacle of God when being chased by the devil. No matter how fast he runs, we will quickly find help in our time of need.