Jail Break! - NCCG.ORG Ning Network Archive 2008-10

JAIL BREAK!
by Linda Sue Pochodzay Edwards

"What's that noise I hear?"

"What noise?"

"THAT noise! Don't you hear it? It's a strange sound. I
haven't heard noise like that in a long time."

"Uh, do you mean that weird humming sound coming from the
other end of the hall?"

"Yeah, that's it! I think it sounds like somebody is singing
down there, but who in their right mind would be singing in a
place like this?"

"NOBODY! It's cold. It's dark. It's damp. We don't get
enough food to eat. And the little bit of food we do get, the
rats try to snatch right out of our hands. It's awful in here!"

"Well, we ARE in jail, remember?"

"Yes! That's exactly what I mean! Who can find anything
to sing about in a rotten place like this?"

"You don't think we are just 'hearing things' do you? Maybe
we've been in here so long that we think the buzzing of the
crawling bugs sounds like singing."

"No, I'm SURE I hear people singing!"

"Well, why don't you ask the guard when he comes by to check
the locks. They do that every night, you know. That's the only
way I even know it's night. It's dark all the time in this
horrible place."

"You want ME to ask the guard? I can't ask the guard! The
last time I tried to ask him anything, he took my pillow. Now I
have to lay my head on this hard floor."

"Oh, all right then. I'll ask him. I'm not afraid of him.
Besides, I don't have a pillow for him to take, and I'm a Roman
citizen so I know that even if he gets mad, at least he can't
beat me."

* * *

"GUARD! HEY GUARD!"

"Huh? What do you want? HOW DARE you bother me when I'm
checking locks?!?!"

"We just wanted to know what that strange sound is. It
sounds like somebody singing."

"Yes! It's singing all right! It's those two crazy, new guys
that came in earlier today. They're driving me crazy. I don't
understand it at all. Their names are Paul and Silas and they
call themselves Christians.

They got beaten and thrown in jail for teaching people about
that Jewish man named Yah'shua. All they have to do to get out of
this place is to quit teaching about Yah'shua. But, NO - they won't
do that. They would rather sit in this cold, dark, nasty jail. It
sure doesn't make any sense to me! That's why I came down to this
end. All they do down there is sing, sing, sing. Then they pray,
pray, pray. Then they sing, sing, sing some more. It is
irritating me and really getting on my nerves. I JUST CAN'T STAND
IT ANY LONGER!

HEY! WAIT A MINUTE! Why am I talking to you lousy prisoners?
I've got work to do. You two are lucky I'm in a good mood today!"

The guard gruffly went about his business and the prisoners
were left to wonder about Paul and Silas.

* * *

The singing continued on, and on, and on. The longer they
sang, the louder it became. It was already midnight and they were
still singing. It was becoming quite clear that NO ONE would be
getting any sleep that night - with, or without a pillow!

SUDDENLY, the prisoners were gripped with fear.

"WHOA! WHAT WAS THAT?"

"Did I really feel the ground move?"

"OH, NO! I think the walls are shaking too!"

"That's an awfully weird noise I hear, and I'm NOT talking
about those guys singing down there."

"Listen to the clinking and the clanking!" I think this
whole building is going to come down on top of us and we are all
going to be buried under a pile of rubble."

"HELP! HELP! SOMEBODY GET US OUT OF HERE!!!"

* * *

When the earthquake was over, everyone breathed a deep sigh
of relief and looked around. The walls had not fallen on top of
them and no one was hurt. The really odd thing was that all the
chains had fallen off the hands and feet of the prisoners. They
were free to go, but they all just stood there, looking around in
astonishment.

The guard had somehow found a way to sleep through
the entire ordeal. When he awoke, he was very afraid.
He saw that the chains were lying on the ground, and he thought
the prisoners had escaped. He was sure he was in big, big
trouble.

Paul saw how fearful the guard was and called out to him.
"Don't be afraid. Everything is all right. We are all here. No
one tried to escape."

The guard looked up in disbelief. They had their chance to
get out of that dingy, dirty jail, but they didn't leave? He was
very puzzled about it all.

He called for someone to get him a light so he could see for
himself. He counted the prisoners. Sure enough. They were all
there.

He was still trembling when he ran over to Paul and Silas.

"Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" he asked.

They replied, "Believe on the Master Yah'shua the Messiah and you will
be saved."

The guard was so happy! He took Paul and Silas to his very
own house. He gently cleaned the wounds they had received from
the beating. Then he gave them good food to eat and a nice
place to rest.

The next morning the guard had great news. He told Paul and
Silas that he had permission to set them free.

* * *

THINK!
Why were Paul and Silas thrown in prison?
Why were they able to sing joyfully in that awful jail?

A VERSE TO LEARN
"I will sing unto Yahweh as long as I live"
(Psalm 104:33).

REMEMBER
Even on the worst days and in the worst situations, you can
still sing and have joy in your heart.

LET'S PRAY

****************************************************
Dear Father, thank You for being with us in every
situation. Help us to remember that we can be
joyful no matter what happens, because we know You
love us and care for us very much.
In Yah'shua's Name. Amen.
****************************************************

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