The Hiding Place (Corrie Ten Boom) - reviewed by Rhiannon Ware

Post date: Jul 14, 2010 3:32:07 PM

For Christmas I’d asked for and received a copy of Corrie

Ten Boom’s ‘The Hiding Place’. Many will be familiar with

her testimony, but for those who are not I will endeavour to

summarise her story.

Corrie Ten Boom and her family were living in Haarlem, Holland

at the outbreak of World War II. Her family, not wealthy but

devoutly Christian, risked their lives by offering their home to

Jews as a ‘Hiding Place’ from the occupying Nazis. The story

goes on to recount the experiences of Corrie and Betsie (her sister)

after their arrest and subsequent detention in various concentration

camps.

I love reading a good adventure book and this is truly of this

genre. However, it is also a deeply challenging book as the reader

remembers that this is not a novel, but a real account of the Ten

Boom family and Corrie’s testimony of God’s hand on their life

through adversity. She writes honestly, contrasting her practical,

often forceful self with the more sedate, spiritual Betsie and the

highly respected, profoundly wise Father.

I couldn’t put this book down (and equally couldn’t believe I

hadn’t read her story before!) The Hiding Place presents so many

spiritual jewels, it gives evidence that our God is still providing

miracles where there is need and offers a challenge to our comfy,

Christian existence of today.

Rhiannon Ware