The story was at times reminiscent of the Israelites exodus from Egypt. The Jewish refugees would complain to their de facto leader Tuvia Bielski (Moses), wishing they were back in the Ghetto (Egypt) because they would at least have food and water. As the movie climaxed, the refugees had to make what seemed to be a no-win decision, either they could stay put and die in the forest by the invading German army or they could risk their lives by crossing the swamp area (Red Sea) with the young, elderly, and sick. They made the decision to cross the swamp area and made it through okay but the German army was waiting on the other side to kill them. Fortunately, the Germans themselves were ambushed by another Bielski brother, Dus Bielski, and his armed men who had earlier in the movie left the forest camp to fight with the Russian army.
Although I have seen many movies about how the Jewish people were forced into hiding during WWII, I never really thought of how it might affect their faith in God. A particular scene in the movie got me thinking about this issue. Right before, the German planes began bombing the forest, there was a scene where a rabbi was teaching the Jewish children about God’s faithfulness to the Jewish people throughout history. I began wondering how they could continue to trust God even though they were literally living day to day in a forest with barely enough to eat and living in fear of their lives. Moreover, it wasn’t like they lived that way for just a month or two - rather it was 2-3 years of this!
I hope to never have to endure such things due to another person’s/country’s desire to “rid” themselves of Christians and fortunately, God placed me and my family in a country that allows freedom of religion. Of course there has been lots of talk about and even some government policies that have been enacted that would limit freedoms for Christians in America all in the name of tolerance. The Bible warns that in the near future the world government will become increasingly more hostile to Christians even to the point of death. Will my family and I, along with countless other Christians have a chance to endure similar situations as the Jews depicted in this movie did? According to some Bible teachers we may get the chance to. Whatever the case though, we as Christians should always be prepared to suffer for the sake of Jesus. It is during times of crises that these words of Peter come to life and can bring us hope:
"In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed." (1 Peter 1:6-7)
"After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you." (1 Peter 5:10)
"For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong." (1 Peter 3:17)
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