Harriet: God Calls Liberators From the Margins - Progressive (Exodus 3)

In the dense, humid air of the Maryland woods, a young woman named Harriet Tubman stood at the edge of a swamp, her heart pounding like a drum in the silence of early dawn. She had escaped the grips of slavery, yet God’s call echoed in her soul, compelling her to turn back, not for her own sake, but for the sake of her people still trapped in chains. Imagine the weight of that decision—every step she took toward freedom was a harrowing journey through darkness, yet each step she took back was fueled by an unwavering faith that God would guide her through the perilous terrain.

Much like Moses at the burning bush, Harriet's experience was not a solitary moment of enlightenment; it was a divine mandate calling her from the margins of society to confront the very foundations of oppression. In Exodus 3, the God of the oppressed declares, “I have seen the affliction of my people…and I have come down to deliver them.” Here, we see that God does not remain distant; God enters the fray, taking sides with the marginalized, much like Harriet who, against all odds, became the conductor of the Underground Railroad.

Picture her standing on the precipice, her breath mixing with the fog, eyes glistening with the hope of liberation. God still calls us from unexpected places, sometimes from our own swamps of despair or fear, to rise up against modern-day Pharaohs—systems, injustices, and apathy that keep others bound. As we gather in community, let us listen for that call, ready to say, “Here I am, Lord,” and lead others toward the freedom they so desperately seek. In doing so, we embody the very essence of the liberating God who walks with us through every dark path.