“They wandered … in dens and caves of the earth” (Hebrews 11:38).
Perhaps you have read this verse before, and wondered what it would be like to have to live in a den or a cave. We often read of animals like wolves or bears, who live in a den or a cave, and perhaps raise their young there.
Sometimes when we were young, we would dig holes in the sides of big piles of dirt (or snowbanks), and make a small cave into which we would crawl, just to pretend that we were going to live there. It was fun, but we really would not have wanted to sleep there, and have it as our home.
But many times in the history of God’s people, there have been those who were persecuted, and had to take refuge in caves and dens. Back in the time of Samuel and King Saul, the Israelites were so afraid of the Philistines at one point that they left their houses and went to live in caves. It says that “the people did hide themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in high places, and in pits” (1 Samuel 13:6). This must have happened at other times too, for it is recorded in the book of Hebrews, as we see in our verse for today.
We know that this also happened later, in the history of the church. During the days of the Roman Empire, it is evident that Christians dug complicated tunnels underground outside the city of Rome, where they could live out of reach of their persecutors. These tunnels sometimes opened into larger rooms, where a number of Christians could meet together. The tunnels and rooms were so complicated that no one dared to go down there unless they knew their way, for it was easy to get lost. But it was not a very comfortable way to live! When we were in Rome some years ago, we were able to visit one of these catacombs, as they were called, and see how Christians lived in those days. Many dear believers were buried there too, and their bodies are waiting for the resurrection day, when the Lord comes to take us home.
Much later, in Scottish history, in the latter part of the 17th century, many Christian leaders and guides among the people lived in caves, and those who knew them and loved them brought them food secretly. The king of England at that time tried to force them to be part of the Church of England, and they resisted. Sometimes, of course, they were caught, and usually suffered martyrdom as a result. But many escaped detection, and were able to live for the Lord, and preach His Word. Alexander Peden was one of these men, and when he was dying at the age of sixty, he remarked that this was the first real bed on which he had slept for twenty-eight years! We were able to visit his grave when we were in Scotland some years ago.
These dear people were faithful to the Lord, often at great cost to themselves. We can be thankful for the liberty that most of us have today, but let us remember that there are still many in this world who are suffering for Christ, and giving up their lives for Him.