Category: history

Born as a slave in eastern Maryland around 1822, Araminta Ross married John Tubman in 1844 and changed her first name to Harriet. Later she was called ‘Moses’ for leading many of her people out of slavery prior to the American Civil War.

‘Harriet’, the movie, recounts her own escape in 1849 and subsequent trips from a place of safety to rescue others, including her own parents and family. What stands out to followers of Jesus is Harriet’s dependence on the Lord for guidance. She trusted the voice of her Savior and resisted the enemy of fear. While larger numbers have been proposed, historians agree she delivered at least 70 slaves from bondage and never lost a single person on at least 13 rescue missions.

We do not have ‘legal’ slavery in our land today, but many are in bondage. I want to learn to trust Jesus the way Harriet Tubman did. She concluded: “I can’t fully enjoy my own freedom knowing others I love are still in bondage. Jesus wants liberty for all… and He will guide me to help others as I trust Him. ‘Lord, use me to set the captives free!’”

Will there be misunderstanding? Will there be opposition? Will there be danger? We only need remember Jesus to see the true war. Satan will use every tactic to prevent spiritual freedom. The Nazarene’s own people accused Him of being a false teacher and though they claimed to follow Moses, they missed God.

“You study the Scriptures diligently because you think in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about Me, yet you refuse to come to Me to have life… But do not think I will accuse you before the Father. Your accuser is Moses, on whom your hopes are set. If you believed Moses, you would believe Me, for he wrote about Me. But since you do not believe what he wrote, how are you going to believe what I say?” (John 5:39-47)

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1) In Christ there is freedom… and we must stand confidently in Him. As with those who walked the 90 plus miles with Harriet Tubman to reach safe refuge, following the Lord is not for the faint of heart. Two truths hold us steady: A King purchased us with His blood.… and our Good Shepherd promises to lead us to the Promised Land.

“But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called ‘Today,’ so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the end. As has just been said: ‘Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.’ Who were those who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt?” Hebrews 3:13-16

“Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself. For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything. ‘Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s house,’ bearing witness to what would be spoken by God in the future. But Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house. And we are His house, if indeed we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory.” Hebrews 3:3-6

“They were longing for a better country – a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.” Hebrews 11:16

Eighty years ago, on September 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland and World War II began. Last year, I wrote about William Klein, the father of Bobby, one of my good friends growing up. A native of Czechoslovakia, Mr. Klein survived the Holocaust, spending time in the Warsaw Ghetto and in Auschwitz.

In 1939, the Jewish community made up over thirty percent of Warsaw’s population, but 320,000 died during the war — over ninety percent of the Jews. Despite penalty of execution if caught, an estimated 70,000-90,000 non-Jewish citizens of Warsaw helped hide and rescue their Jewish neighbors. 28,000 targeted people escaped death because others chose to risk everything to resist evil.

Jan Zabinski and his wife Antonina were two such heroes. Their story is depicted in The Zookeeper’s Wife, a movie filmed in 2017, and based on the 2007 book of the same title written by Diane Ackerman. Diane used the diary of Antonina to tell the story. At the age of 87, Ryszard Zabinski died in Warsaw April 18, 2019. Only seven years old at the outbreak of the war, he helped take food to the hiding strangers on his parents’ property. “Yes, we were risking death but, to me, it was just the natural thing to do. In these times, many people risked their lives.”

In 1912, most could not understand why a well-known Jewish pediatrician named Henryk Goldszmit retired from his medical career and started an orphanage for boys and girls in Warsaw. Henryk was also an author who used the pen name Janusz Korczak to write books to help parents and teachers prepare children for life.

When Jews were forced into the Ghetto in 1940, Korczak moved the orphanage inside the district. A man of influence, he had several opportunities to escape but declined them all, choosing instead to remain with his children and help them navigate the ever-increasing persecution. In the tiny section of town where the enemy restricted individual food rations to 181 calories per day, Korczak taught the young to pray like this: “Thank you, Merciful Lord, for having arranged to provide flowers with fragrance, glow worms with their glow, and to make stars in the sky sparkle.”

In 1942, he accompanied his children to the trains that took innocents to their deaths in Treblinka. Joshua Perle was an eyewitness: “A miracle occurred; two hundred pure souls, condemned to death, did not weep. Not one of them ran away. None tried to hide. Like stricken swallows they clung to their teacher and mentor, to their father and brother, Januzsz Korczak.” The nations of Russia, Poland, and Israel have each honored this man who demonstrated ultimate love.

Sacrificial love captures the world’s attention. God knows every instance of such love.  Jesus highlighted it when He said, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for his friends.” (John 14:13) He then called His disciples ‘friends’… and laid down His life for them… and for us. May we follow in His steps.

“The reason My Father loves Me is that I lay down My life – only to take it up again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of My own accord.” John 10:17-18

The Zookeeper’s Wife, by Diane Ackerman; ©2007 W. W. Norton, New York; pp 250-260

I recently watched the video of a minister sharing about Jesus. He was just an ordinary man in his sixties, but his words and demeanor revealed a passionate love for our Savior and a great desire for everyone to know Him. At one point I thought: “His face reminds me of the picture of someone… who is it?” Then I remembered…

Susan and I watched a movie not long ago entitled Operation Finale which prompted me to re-read a book called Hunting Eichmann. The movie and the book recount the persistent search and eventual capture of one of the most notorious Nazi leaders to escape Europe after World War II.

Adolph Eichmann was one of the key architects of the ‘Final Solution,’ the evil plot to eliminate all Jews in Europe. Tipped off by a resident of Buenos Aires, an eleven man Mossad team made their way to Argentina via various cities from different continents. Their plan was top secret and no one from the Argentine government was informed.

After living with his wife and sons for over ten years on foreign soil under an alias name, Adolph Eichmann was captured near his house on May 11, 1960 and flown to Israel to be tried for the wartime murder of Jews. Despite his claims of innocence, after testimonies of survivors of the Holocaust in a trial that lasted almost four months, Eichmann was found guilty of fifteen criminal charges, including the murder of masses. Since 1948, he is the only person assigned the death penalty by an Israeli court. Adolph Eichmann was hanged on June 1, 1962.

The most common description of Eichmann by his captors and those that observed the trial was: “He just looks like an ordinary man.” Very few photographs were taken of him during the war or during his years of hiding, but a few were included in the book. One of those pictures came to mind as I watched the video of the Christian minister speaking about Jesus.

Besides the eras in which they lived, what is the difference between these two ordinary-looking men? The Christian might say: “But for the grace of God, there am I.” In humility, a repentant man that realizes his need, confesses his sin, and calls on the name of the Lord receives the mercy he knows he does not deserve. Though just an ordinary man, he can then proclaim hope for all sinners. “If Jesus can save me… He can save you!”

The man who refuses to face the truth about himself and surrender his life to the King rejects the grace and love God offers. The Israeli government allowed a Canadian protestant pastor named William Hull to spend many hours with Eichmann after he was sentenced. The pastor knew that God loves everyone and he wanted the convicted murderer to be saved before he was executed. But the ordinary-looking man would never admit he was wrong. He said to Hull: “There is no Hell. I have not sinned. I am clear with God. I did nothing wrong. I have no regrets.”

The devil is the master deceiver; Jesus is the Master Savior. May we live as His humble servants and may we share His extraordinary message of love.

“Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace…” Romans 8:5-6

Quote from Hunting Eichmann, by Neal Bascomb; ©2009 Houghton, Mifflin, Harcourt Publishing Company, New York, New York; p 318

Two boys were playing in the Atlantic Ocean on a holiday weekend not far from their Florida home when they were caught in a rip tide. Bobby saw them and without hesitating swam to his fourteen-year-old and eleven-year-old sons. He got them on their boogie boards but could not overcome the pull of the current. Bobby Klein died while saving his boys.

This tragedy took place a little over ten years ago. Bobby and I were two of a group of friends who constantly played football, basketball, and baseball in the neighborhood. We also spent a lot of time at each others’ houses. Bobby’s dad William owned a grocery store in Chattanooga. He did not talk about it, but we all knew William Klein was a survivor of the Holocaust.

I was thinking of Bobby last week and found his dad’s recorded testimony in the archives of the Holocaust Museum in Washington D. C. Later in life, Mr. Klein decided he needed to share his story of growing up as a Jew in a small town in Czechoslovakia and the terrible persecution from Hitler’s evil regime. He visited schools and spoke on radio and television programs.

I had not heard Mr. Klein’s voice in over forty years until I listened to the ninety-one minute recording. Jews were forced to wear the yellow star of David in his town early in 1943. Then in 1944, William, his brother, a sister, both parents, and a brother-in-law were forced into a crowded cattle train for a three day foodless journey to Auschwitz. Separated upon arrival, Mr. Klein never saw his parents or sister again. After two months in Auschwitz, William, his brother, and brother-in-law volunteered to work in Warsaw, Poland. A few months after arriving in Warsaw, 11,800 prisoners were forcibly marched to Germany; only 800 survived. The three relatives were imprisoned in Dachau until the war ended in 1945.

Mr. Klein told his story in a matter-of-fact manner. He said Jews should remember, but not hate; hatred only destroys the one who hates. He recalled his childhood when Jews and non-Jews in his town looked out for one another. Minimalizing his own suffering, Mr. Klein often gave credit to God for allowing him to survive. Fifteen-hour work days, beatings, injuries, and inhumane living conditions were viewed as obstacles to overcome. He, his brother, and brother-in-law tried to help others as much as they could while witnessing cruelties beyond description.

Mr. Klein died at the age of eight-three, six months before his son died rescuing his grandsons. I think he would have praised Bobby for reacting as he was taught to live. Mr. Klein’s only boasting was about his family in Czechoslovakia and his family in America. His simple analysis: “We loved one another.”

I learn these lessons from my neighbors, the Kleins:

• Do not hesitate to rescue someone in danger, even at risk of losing your life
• Do not hate those who are consumed with hatred
• Do not seek pity, even though you have suffered greatly
• Encourage others through your own experiences
• Treasure your family; honor your parents; love your children

“My eyes fail from weeping, I am in torment within, my heart is poured out on the ground because my people are destroyed… Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. I say to myself, ‘The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait on Him.’” Lamentations 2:11, 3:22-24

‘Advent’ derives from the Latin word that means ‘coming.’ On the four Sundays before Christmas, many celebrate the Advent season by focusing on the coming of the One announced by angels:

“Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a Baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:10-12)

While many prophecies pointed to the Messiah, no one knew exactly how God’s plan would transpire. Luke wrote about two old people who waited with beautiful expectation. Simeon held the Baby, blessed the family, and declared his life on earth complete after meeting little Jesus. Eighty-four-year-old Anna had constantly prayed and fasted in the temple while waiting for the promised One. When she witnessed His coming, she praised God and told others the good news. (See Luke 2:25-38)

While many prophecies point to Jesus’ return, no one knows exactly how God’s plan will transpire. Are there ‘Simeons’ or ‘Annas’ on earth today waiting with beautiful expectation?

Paul not only writes that the Holy Spirit creates such desire in us, but he shares that, indeed, all creation longs for the Day:

We know the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. (Romans 8:22-24)

The first Advent is history; the second is closer than ever.

“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed Hope – the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are His very own, eager to do what is good.” Titus 2:11-14