Part Three: In the camp
God's Timing

"Oh no! He caught me!" Paul thought. He lay just where he was, frozen stiff, pretending to sleep.

The guard watched him for a while, then went and woke up the guard who was suppose to be on duty next. Paul heard them talking quietly. Soon the new guard came over and shone his light on Paul, waiting to see if he would move out of his weird position. Paul didn't move a muscle, but his heart was pounding. "Lord, take control, please take control!"

Finally the guard walked away. Paul sighed, "Thank you, Lord!"

The next thing Paul knew, it was Tuesday morning, and he felt exhausted. That morning a guard took away the little log. How discouraging! Then God seemed to ask him, "Paul, what was it that encouraged you yesterday?"

Paul knew what to do! He opened his Bible.

That day he read how God delivered the Israelites when they were captives in Egypt. He read about an army that tried to capture Elisha, and the whole army was struck blind. He read how God made 3,000 of David's enemies fall so sound asleep that he could walk right into their midst -- and out again, and not one awoke.

By the time night came again, Paul was really excited about what God could do. Again he planned his escape. He would go to sleep and trust God to wake him just before dawn, so he could escape while it was still dark, but land after it was light. With his spare tank he had enough fuel to fly less than two hours. That would not get him to his mission's headquarters, but it would take him far from the guerrillas.

That night Paul slept soundly. Not even the flashlight woke him up. When he did wake, it was pitch black, and he had no idea what time it was.

Paul sat up and prayed, "Lord, please blind the eyes of the guards who are awake. Make their ears deaf. Make the sleeping ones sleep so soundly they won't wake up until I'm gone. Thank you, Lord!"


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