NZAMBE, a poor African who was hired to carry a trader’s pack, fell sick on the trail one day. His master was going to move on and leave him alone to die. But the other African carriers asked permission to take him to a near-by village. Here he was nursed back to health.
Best of all, a missionary in that village spoke to Nzambe of the Lord Jesus, and he gladly received him as his Saviour and Master. When he was well again he returned to his own village, hoping to tell his people the glad tidings of salvation. One evening he sat with them around the campfire. Several times he got to his feet and tried to speak, but others rudely pushed him back onto the ground. He tried several times to speak, and then the chief commanded that Nzambe be given an opportunity. Now Africans love parables, so Nzambe told them the following story.
There had been a great drought in the country. All the pools and streams had dried up. On a certain day all the animals gathered together to see if they could discover any way of obtaining water. One animal after another made suggestions. They all thought they knew how water could be found. Each suggestion was respectfully carried out. Only one little turtle was not heeded. He kept crying in his small voice, “I know where there is water.” But he only received a kick for his trouble. One time the elephant with his big foot trampled him so far into the dead moss and leaves that he almost lost his life.
The animals continued to listen to one another, and followed each false clue as soon as it was suggested. But all was of no use. When they were all so weary and depressed they gathered once again in a hopeless huddle. Once again the persistent little turtle tried to make himself heard. “But I know where there is water,” he cried.
At last the animals were willing to listen. Then the little turtle led all who were willing to follow him down to the water. Down in a valley they went; and there, from a clear sparkling spring, flowed an abundance of life-giving water. “Drink and live,” invited the turtle; and the thirsty animals were only too glad to do so.
As Nzambe spoke, the truth of the parable began to dawn on his listers. They were the soul-thirsty ones, and Nzambe knew the answer to their needs. With joy he spoke of the Saviour, who gives the living water to thirsty souls who will come to drink. Nzambe was only young in the faith, and he knew little of the wonderful things contained in that precious Book, the Bible, but he had made a wonderful discovery. He sought to lead his soul-thirsty tribesmen to that fountain of living water, Jesus, the Saviour of sinners. There was blessing in the African village as the result of the faithful testimony of Nzambe.
ML-06/14/1964