The Book of Acts, chapter 16, speaks of a great earthquake that loosed Paul and Silas from bondage in prison. Just prior to this Paul and Silas had been praying and singing praises to God. Their worship came from the awkward position of sitting with their feet in “stocks”, designed to limit all movement. Further, their backs were scourged with “many stripes”, possibly as many as 39, certainly not conducive to worship. Later on, after the fact of the beating and imprisonment, it was learned the authorities that caused Paul and Silas to be beaten and imprisoned, had done so unlawfully because these two men were Roman citizens.
Still, in the face of these unlawful events, Paul and Silas elected to pray and sing praises to God. It was dark (midnight), and all the prisoners were listening to these two, certainly wondering what was going on with them. Then, whammo--a great earthquake(!), not shaking down the prison as one might well expect, but rather one which was very particular in its effects: opening all the doors of the prison and loosing everyone’s chains. This would have included setting Paul and Silas free from their stocks. The keeper of the prison, awaking from his sleep, and seeing all the prison doors opened and supposing all the prisoners had fled, had drawn his sword and would have killed himself. Then Paul called from the darkness and said, “Hold it, we’re all here!”
The prison keeper’s response: he called for a light and ran and fell down “trembling” before Paul and Silas. Here Paul and Silas were unshackled, walking about and totally in control of the circumstance. In a moment of time this prison keeper saw life’s realities: there is a God and these men were his representatives. After bringing them out he said in effect, “Sirs, what must I do to get right with God?” They told him and he and all his household received that word and were baptized. Then he did a very sensible thing, he washed their stripes and fed them.
Can it be supposed God is so displeased with the way His servants are treated that He enters in with a telltale earthquake? God is not surprised when His servants are mistreated, but when those servants respond with what might be termed “highest worship”, praying and singing hymns to God, when physically they didn’t feel like it--could it be said God is touched in a very special way and ushers in His approval in a very special way?
It cannot be said that when you react in a similar way, to similar circumstance, that you will be favored in similar fashion. But, then, again, you may. The point is in every circumstance you want to be faithful to God in honoring Him with your prayers and thanksgiving.