Sunday, February 17, 2013

A Hiding Place



My teenage daughter, Becky had not been feeling well, and I had just obtained an interesting book.  I decided to read out loud to her to help take her mind off her pain. 

The book was intriguing so each evening, thereafter, before she went to bed, I read a chapter to her.  It took us almost 3 weeks to finish the book, but it was something that touched both of our hearts.  Briefly, the outline of the story is as follows.

Behind a bedroom closet, in the Ten Boom home, a secret room served as a hiding place for rescued Jews.  From there, they were smuggled to a safe place away from the German occupation of the Netherlands. 
 
Only thirty inches deep, the tiny hiding place could hold up to eight people! Access was provided by a small hatch door. Upstairs, waiting Jews occupied several unused rooms, ever-alert for the sound of a buzzer.  In the event of a raid, this system would warn them to rush to the hiding place!

Food was rationed but Corrie ten Boom was able to secure additional ration books to smuggle food for those she rescued. 
 
Because of her efforts, many Jews were saved from being killed!  She and her sister, suspected of hiding Jews and breaking rationing rules, were eventually arrested and sent to prison.  Their Christian faith kept them from bitterness and despair, even as they suffered from hard work, from vermin, and from lack of food. 

With small pages of the Bible that had been hidden in Corrie’s clothing, she and her sister were able to hold Bible studies without interruption from the guards.  A flea infestation in their prison quarters guaranteed that guards would not bother them! The fleas provided a HIDING PLACE, so Corrie and her sister could freely have a daily time of worship.

Corrie’s sister died in prison, but Corrie was eventually released and returned home.  She began to write, and soon after, the book The Hiding Place was published.

I find it interesting that the Bible speaks of various hiding places, and secret places of many types.  In Exodus 2:2-3, the mother of Moses hid the baby three months. 
 
“And when she could not longer hide him at home, she took for him an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and with pitch, and put the child therein; and she hid it in the flags by the river’s brink.”

The morning newspaper of Joshua’s day might have read, “Harlot Hides Spies!” 

Joshua 2:6 says, “Rahab had brought them up to the roof of the house, and hid the spies with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order upon the roof.”

God always has a plan.  You are not hidden from the Lord, and He knows your every step. You may not be able to write a book as Corrie Ten Boom did, but you can let your light shine where you are.

This brings us to one final thought about secret places. Jesus encourages us in Luke 11:33, not to hide our candles, (our testimony) but rather to hold our light high, allowing it to shine where all may see our witness. 
 
No, let us not be ‘Secret Christians’ but let us be among those one who vibrantly share their faith with others!

 
This post is shared with Charlotte’s Spiritual Sundays

 

5 comments:

Gayle said...

I have been reading stories from World War II lately and just re-read this book. It was interesting to see all the hiding places in scripture. I'm visiting from Spiritual Sunday. Have a blessed week.

caryjo said...

i have read that book so many times since it was published. And saw her in Redwood City a couple times at church and a lady's home in '72. WOW! I couldn't have imagined that. Anyhow, that book means so much to me. Still does; still share it with so many others sometimes to let them know how the Lord can break through their lives and protect and keep them.

You scriptural examples are good,too.

HOWEVER, one of my main ones in her book: when she and Betsie were wakened by planes and went to the kitchen to have something to drink [as I recall], and when she returned to her room some "bomb" damage had ended up on her bed and she would have died. It always is a reminder of going where we feel led and realizing later how it was putting us into protection.

It's toooo late; my brain ain't working skillfully enough, so the sentences might not make enough sense. BUT didn't want to NOT comment re: this wonderful book.

Blessings.

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Anne said...

As Christians, a lot is expected from us yet the call is utterly simple. We're just asked to follow Him and show others that we do with our actions.

I try to remind myself of that call everyday and hope that even if my actions are not always as expected, His light still shines through.

Floyd said...

Great post and that's an awesome book. More Christians need to stand and proclaim the Good News. It's a gift to the world! We need to share it with joy and urgency. Hiding isn't for God's children at this time in history! Great reminder, Hazel!