It was on this day, in 1944, that the Amsterdam hideout of Anne Frank and her family was discovered by the Nazis. The Franks and other families had managed to live in very tight quarters, having to be extremely quiet and very particular about how they conducted their lives. Needless to say, it was a very stressful situation. Unfortunately they were discovered and, soon thereafter, were sent to extermination camps. This is very sad story is one of tens of thousands of stories just like it throughout Europe in WWII.
It is important to take note of this particular story because, due to certain bothersome developments in the last several years, there are people who are giving into a survival mentality. People are trying to position themselves to survive — even hide out, if need be — the next Holocaust they believe is certain to occur. While we certainly believe that the Creator can protect His people through supernatural means, even providing a secure and safe hide-a-way, if need be, there is only one place that is foolproof. That particular place is described in:
“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in whom I will trust.” (Psalm 91:1-2)
Consider that the secret place mentioned here is similar to what one would find in the Most Holy Place of the Sanctuary — the place where His Presence would dwell between the cherubim, upon the Mercy Seat of the Ark of the Covenant. And so, to dwell in the secret place of the Most High and abide under the shadow of the Almighty is to go beyond a courtyard experience, beyond the Holy Place, and into the Most Holy Place. Moreover, to go into the Most Holy Place is to go beyond the lighted courtyard and into the relative darkness of the Holy of Holies. Psalm 18:11 says that God makes “darkness” His secret place. And so, to dwell in the secret place suggests that a person must learn to trust God in the light, when everything is easily perceived, and to trust Him when it’s dark — especially when it’s dark.
Considering the times in which we live, it seems likely that we are being conditioned to trust Him regardless of what’s going on around us. When we hide ourselves in Him, a thousand may fall at one hand and ten thousand at the other, but calamity will not touch those who have placed their confidence and trust in Him. It is one thing to know that the world is growing more dangerous by the day and doing what we know to do to prepare. However, we have no reason to believe that we will be saved and delivered because of what we know or what we can do. It has always been that God’s people are delivered because of Who they know and because they place their confidence in Him. No enemy or secret police force can uncover and disrupt that hiding place. Our prayer is that, whatever you may be going through, you will find that secret place in Him, today.
Shalom.
Hi Bill,
I believe Corrie Ten Boom and her sister demonstrated your point in remarkable ways!
Shalom and blessings to you all.