When it's Valid to Hide from Harm

Sometimes hiding from others is a valid response to avoid unnecessary persecution. The believer who operates on wisdom and faith will make the right choice at the right time. Solomon wrote, “The prudent sees the evil and hides himself, but the naïve go on, and are punished for it” (Prov 22:3; cf., Prov 27:12). In this verse, the prudent man is shrewd and sees evil ahead, and by wisdom “hides himself” from harm, but the naïve lack wisdom, advance, and are punished. It’s interesting that the Hebrew word “prudent” is singular, whereas the word “naïve” is plural, perhaps suggesting that the prudent are few, while the naïve are many.

Scripture records that Moses’ parents hid him from Pharaoh, who had commanded, “Every son who is born you are to cast into the Nile” (Ex 1:22). After Moses was born, his mother “hid him for three months” (Ex 2:2), a courageous and defiant act of faith and love to protect her child from harm. The writer of Hebrews reflects on this event, stating, “By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents” (Heb 11:23). The faith of Moses’ parents defied Pharaoh’s evil edict, and so the child was protected from harm.

Similarly, Rahab, after welcoming two Jewish spies into her home (Josh 2:1), protected them by lying to the king’s messengers about their whereabouts (Josh 2:3-5). In reality, she had “taken the two men and hidden them” (Josh 2:4) on her rooftop among stalks of flax (Josh 2:6). The writer of Hebrews commends Rahab for her actions, saying, “By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies in peace” (Heb 11:31). She welcomed them into her home and protected them by hiding them from those who sought to harm them. 

When David was being persecuted by King Saul, who sought to kill him, Jonathan advised David to “stay in a secret place and hide yourself” (1 Sam 19:2). This hiding was valid and preserved David from unnecessary harm. During the reign of Ahab and Jezebel, when Jezebel sought to destroy the prophets of the Lord, Obadiah took a hundred prophets and “hid them” in caves (1 Ki 18:4), and “provided them with bread and water” to help keep them alive (1 Ki 18:4). These were true prophets, for false prophets would not have feared Ahab and Jezebel’s hostility.

Even Jesus hid Himself on two occasions when the Jewish leaders sought to harm Him. John records that “Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple” (John 8:59) and later that “He departed and hid Himself from them” (John 12:36). These acts of hiding by Jesus were not sinful but were in alignment with God’s timing. However, there was a time when Jesus did not hide but willingly faced His attackers according to the Father’s will (Matt 26:39). And Jesus’ suffering and sacrificial death on the cross paid for our sins. Praise God!

Of course, there are times when we must not hide, but instead be courageous and strong, not cowardly and weak; as Scripture says, “For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline” (2 Tim 1:7). Sadly, however, there are times when true believers hide for the wrong reasons. For example, some of the Jewish leadership in Jesus’ day had “believed in Him” (John 12:42a); however, “because of the Pharisees, they were not confessing Him, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue” (John 12:42b). These believers chose to hide their faith for selfish reasons, “for they loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God” (John 12:43). One could argue that Peter was hiding from persecution when he denied the Lord three times (Matt 26:33-35, 69-75). Believers have eternal life and are promised heaven, and even though some may deny the Lord after being saved, this does not negate their eternal destiny, for eternal life is a free gift that cannot be forfeited after it is received (John 10:28; Rom 8:1).

Paul represents the ideal, for he was a man of strong character and was not put off by suffering, as he wrote, “we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body” (2 Cor 4:8-10). Though he experienced great suffering and persecution, Paul was faithful to God until the end of life, telling Timothy, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith” (2 Tim 4:7). 

In summary, Scripture provides examples where hiding to avoid unnecessary persecution was a wise and faithful response. From Moses’ parents and Rahab to Obadiah and even Jesus Himself, we see that such actions, when motivated by faith and aligned with God’s will, can be both prudent and righteous. At the same time, believers must discern the proper moments to stand courageously and face persecution, as exemplified by Paul, who endured great suffering while remaining faithful to his mission. While some may hide for sinful reasons, there are certainly times when hiding is both wise and valid.

Dr. Steven R. Cook