Corrie ten Boom
Corrie ten Boom was a quiet, unassuming, remarkable woman. She lived with her family in Haarlem, a Dutch town between Amsterdam and the North Sea. In 1937 the ten Boom family began to open their home to elderly Jews fleeing Germany. The war began in 1939 and Holland was quickly overrun by the Germans. In the first year of occupation there were only minor attacks on Jews, anti-Jewish graffiti on walls, signs in shop windows stating ‘Jews will not be served’ and orders forbidding Jews the use of parks, theatres and restaurants. All Jews were ordered to wear the yellow star of David prominently on all clothing.
But it was not long before Jewish people began to disappear and their shops were closed down. The ten Boom family initially helped others take Jews to safer ground before eventually taking in their first Jewish fugitives in 1942. The need to arrange false identification papers for them brought Corrie increasingly into contact with the underground resistance.
The family home had a hidden room partitioned off. Soon they had nine people hidden away. Because the home was only 150 metres from the police station they were always in danger. One time the police took Corrie to the local police chief. Her fears were relieved when he revealed himself as a Christian and again warned Corrie that she and her family were being constantly watched. But God had much more for Corrie ten Boom.
In Hebrews 10:32 to 34 the writer commends the early Christians for not only enduring persecution, but also for standing with others as they endured. In days to come we may be openly persecuted for our faith.
We need to be prepared – not only to suffer, but to stand with others as they suffer too.
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