The Day the Police Came

“Whoever lives in the shelter of the Most High will rest in his shadow. I will say of the Lord, he is my safe place.” — from Psalm 91

On Monday, 28 February 1944, Corrie was in bed with the flu. Downstairs her brother Willem was leading a Bible study. Suddenly the buzzer sounded. Six people rushed past Corrie’s bed into the secret room: four Jewish guests and two young helpers. Corrie hid the little door and got back into bed.

Moments later the police came up the stairs. They arrested Corrie and searched the house, but they never found the secret room. The angry officer hit Corrie and Betsie. Afterwards, Betsie said that she felt sorry for him.

By the fireplace hung a little wooden sign that said “Jesus is Victor.” Betsie pointed to it, and Papa said that it was true. It looked as though the police had won. But Jesus was still in charge.

That night, at the police station, the family lay down together on a mattress on the floor: Papa, with Betsie, Corrie, Nollie, Willem and Nollie’s son Peter all around him. Willem read Psalm 91, and Papa prayed for them all. It was the last time Corrie heard her father pray. The next day, as the prisoners were driven away, the people of Haarlem stood quietly in the street, many of them crying.

Back at the Beje, the six people stood in the dark behind the wall for two and a half days, while guards waited in the house. Then some kind policemen who were secretly on their side came on duty and let them out. Eusie was so happy that he lifted his arms in the street and sang a Jewish prayer. Sadly, Mary was caught again a few days later, and she died before the war was over. But Eusie lived, and became a well-known cantor.

The secret room did its job, but it could not keep everyone safe. Only God could go with the ten Booms wherever they were taken. God is with you too, even when bad things happen.

Dear God, thank you that you are always with me, even on frightening days. Please be close to people who are in danger today. Amen.