"The Hiding Place"

I would think most of us recognize the title of today's message which is also the title of a book written by Corrie ten Boom. Corrie shares how her family in Haarlem, Holland in the early 1940's, after the Nazi invasion of Holland, helped the Jewish people evade persecution. Most of us know the story but I want to share how their deep faith and trust in God protected them.

The ten Boom family owned a watch repair shop but before the doors to the shop were opened at 8:30 every morning father ten Boom read one chapter of the Bible and the family prayed. This was repeated at 8:45 each evening. This was Corrie's heritage. 

Corrie remembers vividly the night of the invasion as she was in bed and an explosion shook her bed. She immediately went to be with her older sister Betsie and the two prayed many hours for their country. Betsie even prayed for the invading Germans. For five days people came to the watch shop to have the ten Boom family pray for their husbands and sons who were in battle.

During the first year of the Nazi occupation, there were growing signs of the persecution of the Jews. A shop window said "Jews will not be served," a public park sign said "No Jews," and a Synagogue was burned down. The ten Boom family befriended a man who everyday walked his three bull dogs in the neighborhood. One day the dogs were gone. He said he put the dogs to sleep so when the Nazi's came to take him away they would not be left alone.

Word spread that the ten Boom family were friends of the Jews. Suddenly, Jews would show up at the watch shop door saying they had no place to stay. They were always welcomed to live with the family as long as necessary. The living quarters were expanded and hiding places were constructed that were impossible to find.

As all this started happening, Corrie wondered "How should a Christian act when evil is in power?" She then made a commitment to her Lord Jesus, "I offer myself for Your people, in any way, any place, any time."

Corrie and her sister Betsie eventually ended up in concentration camps where they led Bible studies and prayer meetings. By mistake Corrie was finally released as it would appear The Lord intervened. After the war, she administered a large home in Haarlem, Holland where those needing physical and spiritual recovery received continual ministry. She even opened a similar place in Germany.

The story of Corrie ten Boom is an extraordinary example of a child of God sharing His love in difficult and challenging surroundings. Isaiah 62:1 says, "For Zion's Sake. . .I will not remain silent." Are we willing to be those who speak out on Israel's behalf as many countries in the Middle East are determined to destroy them; terror attacks are happening again in Israel; and Anti-Semitism world wide is similar to the Holocaust Period?

May The Lord Bless You And Keep You In His Care This Day And Each Day,

Frank