Harriet: The Call to Costly Obedience - Anabaptist (Exodus 3)

Imagine the heat of the Georgia sun beating down on Harriet Tubman as she stands at the edge of a dense forest, her heart pounding with a mixture of fear and resolve. It is the mid-1800s, and every rustle in the leaves could signal danger—the cruel eyes of slaveholders or the snapping of hounds tracking her scent. Yet, in that oppressive moment, Tubman vividly recalls the voice of God, much like Moses at the burning bush. She hears—no, she feels—it echoing in her soul, urging her to lead her people to freedom.

In her quiet moments, Tubman wrestled with the cost of obedience. The Anabaptist tradition reminds us that heeding God’s call often sets us against the powerful. Like Moses confronting Pharaoh, Tubman stepped headlong into a world where her life was forfeit. Each journey south, guiding enslaved souls to safety, could end in capture or death. Yet, her spirit was ablaze with purpose. The call was not one of comfort; it was a divine commissioning: "I am sending you."

There, in the depths of night, under a blanket of stars, she became a beacon of hope. Picture her whispering to trembling hands, "Trust in the Lord. He has brought us this far." Tubman understood that obedience to God often demands that we leave behind our security. The question isn’t merely, “Is this easy?” but rather, “Will I trust God enough to walk this perilous path?”

As we reflect on our own journeys, may we consider the audacity of Tubman and the faithful response of Moses. Are we ready to answer our own burning bush calling, stepping boldly into the unknown for the sake of justice and love?