Acts 16:25-16 ‘And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed
DAILY READING – 1 John 2; 2 Chronicles 35; Psalm 89:38-52
In 2018, the Russian government released a film, titled “Sobibor”. This was in commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the prison escape from the Nazi death camp in Sorbibor. The two-hour film featuring Russia’s best actors and an international cast, has become a box-office hit. The story of ‘Sorbibor’ signifies that there is no inescapable prison.
During WWII, in March 1942, the Germans built a concentration camp at Sorbibor for only one purpose: to kill as many Jews as quickly as possible. It was built in such a way that it would be impossible for any prisoner to escape. The German Commandant at the camp vowed that his camp would never experience escape of any of its prisoners. However, though it was one of the deadliest extermination camps operated by the Nazis, Sobibor also became the scene of the war’s biggest prisoner escape.
As the Nazis carried out their incessant killings, the Jewish prisoners soon realized that they would all eventually be killed,. Knowing that their days were numbered, they rallied together and began to plan an escape. On October 14, 1943, about three hundred Jewish inmates rose in revolt, killing several of their Nazi supervisors and guards. They ran through surrounding minefields and escaped into the forests. The escape of these Jews was quite devastating to the Nazi officers, who had believed no one would ever survive the camp to tell the story of the evil inhuman war crimes committed there. After the escape, the German officers immediately ordered the Sobibor deathcamp torn down and closed. The gas chambers and killing installations were destroyed and the area planted over with trees to obliterate any sign of the death camp.
Yet 47 of those prisoners who had escaped managed to survive the end of the war and gave evidence of the existence of Sobibor which led to the arrest and prosecution of many of the camp’s Nazi officers.
1 Corinthians 10:13 says ‘God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape’.
God always makes a way of escape. Though sometimes we may find ourselves in situations where it may seem as if there is no way out, somehow miraculously God always makes a way for us. There is no problem so big, that God cannot deliver us from. There is no pit so deep that His loving arms cannot reach down to pull us from. Indeed no matter how tight any situation God always has a way of escape out of it.
In the case of Paul and Silas in Acts 16, there seemed to be no way out. Their hands and feet were bound and they had been thrown into the deepest part of the prison. Yet, Acts 16:25 says ‘And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them’.
In answer to their praise God came down in an earthquake and released them from bondage and they walked free. Indeed no matter how tight or difficult any situation may appear, you can always escape through praise.
In First Samuel 17, the Israelites seemed to be in a tight corner. For 40 days they were tormented, intimidated, and living in fear of Goliath. But one day, came David, who understood the power of praise. He was from the tribe of Judah, the tribe of praise. And through confidence in his God, David brought down the head of Goliath with one single shot!
Indeed there is no closed case with God. He is the way-maker and miracle worker. There is no situation God cannot turn around for you when you stay in faith and praise. When you fill your heart with the Word of God and stay strong in praise, you will surely have the victory. Romans 4:20 says Abraham staggered not at the promise of God, but was strong in faith, giving glory to God. As a result God gave him his Isaac. Therefore when faced with impossible situations, no matter how intimidating, dig in your heels and offer up to God the sacrifice of praise, Praise brings God’s Presence and when God appears, every enemy must disappear. Indeed through the weapon of praise, you can organize your escape out of any bondage!
PRAYER: Lord, I thank You that You are my waymaker in every situation. Today as I praise You, I know You are taking me to greater heights of glory in Jesus Name.
Quote :
Illuminate your world for you are a star destined to shine. WORDBITE 222.