Courage and Faith: Corrie ten Boom's Legacy of Hope Amidst WWII Darkness
In May of 1940, the Netherlands was invaded and occupied by Hitler’s forces during WWII. Jews were arrested and deported to extermination camps located throughout Germany. Active resistance against the occupation was carried out by a small minority of the population, which grew larger as the war continued. Ordinary but courageous civilians joined what was known as the Dutch Underground and were instrumental in helping Jews escape to freedom. However, many paid with their lives.
Corrie ten Boom (1892-1983) was a Dutch woman who, along with her sister, Betsie, found themselves in Ravensbrück, one of Hitler's extermination camps. She and her family were caught hiding Jews in their home. They lost everything near and dear to them, including their eighty-year-old father, who died soon after being arrested.
One thing they did have was a small Bible Corrie was able to miraculously smuggle into the death camp.
Corrie grew up in Haarlem, Holland, in a family that read the Word of God every day. She found within its pages the reality of the world in which she lived, but also the hope, wisdom, and strength she needed to face all of life’s challenges. She knew she could not do without God’s Word in that dark place.
Every evening in the overcrowded barrack; a barrack that reeked of death and misery, Corrie and her sister, Betsie would take the little Bible out of hiding and read to the exhausted, starved women who were being beaten down by Nazi hatred.
God's words of hope permeated the darkness. Soon it was not enough to read the Scriptures in Dutch. Women wanted them translated from Dutch to German, German to Russian, Russian to Bulgarian, Bulgarian to French.
"Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril or sword?...But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us." Romans 8: 35 & 37
The words of that little Bible brought hope, peace and salvation to those who faced death every day. Corrie's own sister, Betsie was wasting away because of Nazi cruelty and hatred. However, all during her time in Ravensbruck, despite the challenges she faced, Betsie's hope in her Savior, Jesus, never waivered. In fact, she openly showed her love to those around her, even the very ones who beat and abused her.
"...we exult in the glory of God. And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, character, and character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God is poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us." Romans 5:2b-5
Then Betsie died. Though her body had wasted away from starvation and physical abuse, her face was radiant, even in death for Betsie realized her hope. Though Corrie was devastated she saw, first-hand, how Christ's love and the truth of His word, were the only remedy for mankind's anger and hatred.
In January 1945, not long after Betsie died, Corrie was released from Ravensbrück due to a clerical error. Much later she learned that shortly after she was discharged, women her age were put to death in the gas chambers. After returning to Holland Corrie slowly recovered her health and by April of 1945 the war finally ended.
Not long afterward, the Lord called Corrie to bring His message of hope to a world devastated by hatred and division. She was in her late fifties by this time and couldn't speak any English. Yet over the next three decades, the Lord sent her to sixty-six countries with only a suitcase, a traveling companion, and little to no money. She called herself a Tramp for the Lord and would later write a book about her adventures.
Throughout her travels, Corrie was always seen with her Bible tucked under her arm.
The truth of God’s word and His promises continued to be her anchor and kept her heart and attitudes in check. Without it she would have let bitterness and unforgiveness consume her. After all, Betsie, who was her sister and best friend, had died in Ravensbrück.
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
2 Timothy 3:16 &17
Instead, she let the truth of God’s Word consume her and many lives all over the world were changed because she did.
“Don’t worry about what you do not understand of the Bible. Worry about what you do understand but do not live by.” Corrie ten Boom
Corrie had a passion for God's Word and her example teaches us to value and desire to store it up in our hearts. We never know when we will need God's words of hope, wisdom and promise.
“You word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Psalm 119:105
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