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