40 Days of Faith: Day 27

Hebrews 11:27 – By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible.

Harriet Tubman was born into slavery in Maryland in the early 1820s. She knew the whip of her master, the weight of chains, and the constant fear that hovered over the plantation. But Harriet feared God more than she feared any earthly master. That fear of God became the fuel of her faith.

One night in 1849, guided by little more than starlight and the whispers of the Underground Railroad, Harriet took her first steps toward freedom.[1] Escaping slavery wasn’t just illegal, it was considered rebellion against the laws of the land. Federal marshals were empowered to hunt down and punish those who fled, and those who helped them.

 But Harriet didn’t just escape for herself. She returned—not once, not twice, but nearly 13 times—to lead over 70 enslaved men, women, and children to freedom.[2] She did it without weapons, wealth, or political power. Instead, she carried a Bible, a fierce trust in God,[3] and a quiet resolve that whispered, “I will not bow to Pharaoh, because I bow to the Lord.”

 She famously said:
 “I never ran my train off the track, and I never lost a passenger.”[4]

 Harriet’s courage didn’t come from the absence of fear—it came from a greater fear. She feared disobeying God more than she feared man. Because of that, she changed the course of history. The line “I will not bow to Pharaoh, because I bow to the Lord” is a thematic summary that draws on Exodus-like imagery that Tubman often referenced herself, seeing her mission in terms of Moses leading the people out of Egypt.

 Standing for what’s right in the face of an authority takes great courage. The writer of Hebrews is helping us understand the faith of Moses, and his summation of Moses’ actions to flee Egypt are noted as steps of faith because of his view of God. As you read the story in Exodus 2, you see that Moses flees Egypt because Pharoah is looking to kill him.

 To this point in Exodus 2, we see that Moses is burdened for the Hebrew people. He knows it is not right that they are enslaved. He sees the injustice of their suffering, and his actions are to help remedy this injustice, despite the law of the land.

 There are other biblical examples of taking a stand against the law of the land because of one’s faith. Daniel doesn’t stop praying to God because there is a new law passed. David, the young giant slayer, shepherd, poet, and musician, fled the service of King Saul, having tried to work within the system and serve the king. But he was unable to, as King Saul hurled a spear at David, trying to end his life. Daniel stayed within the system to influence it, while David took himself out of the situation and went into the desert lands of Israel.

 Both Moses and David spent time wandering—Moses in Midian, and David in the Negev. Both men took next steps in their life to build a family and establish themselves. Then, both men responded to God’s next step for their lives to lead, influence, and grow a nation. But neither of them could do it inside the system in which they were placed. To do so, for Moses would have been immoral, as Pharoah was not going to alleviate the burdens of the Hebrew people. To stay within the system for David would be deadly, as the king’s jealousy sought to destroy him.

 There are times that to do the right thing that honors God, we work within the system to influence and lead change. William Wilberforce’s 45 years in British Parliament shows us this – one who yearly would introduce legislation for the abolishment of the slave trade in the British Empire.

 Then there are times that we must step outside of the system to take the next step for the justice we seek. Moses, Daniel, David, Harriet Tubman, and William Wilberforce, all remind us that true faith doesn’t bow to earthly powers when they conflict with God’s will. Each of them recognized a higher authority, the One who is invisible yet ever present and sovereign. Faith gave them the courage to either work within broken systems or to step outside of them when obedience to God demanded it. Their example challenges us to ask: Where am I tempted to bow to the pressures of people, culture, or authority instead of bowing to the Lord? Today, take a step of faith by choosing God’s voice over every competing voice. Ask Him to show you clearly where He is calling you to stand, speak, or step forward in obedience.

 Prayer:
Father, thank You for reminding me that You are the higher authority, the One who sees all and rules over all. Give me the courage to fear You more than I fear people, laws, or circumstances. Like Moses, Daniel, David, and Harriet Tubman, help me to listen for Your voice and walk faithfully, even when it means standing against the flow of culture or taking a path that feels uncertain. Strengthen my heart to endure as one who sees You—the invisible yet ever-present God. Today, I choose to bow before You alone. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
 
[1] Harriet Tubman Resources, National Park Service, accessed August 2025, https://www.nps.gov.
[2] Harriet Tubman Biography, National Women’s History Museum, accessed August 2025, https://www.womenshistory.org.
[3] Harriet Tubman: Visions of Freedom, PBS documentary and companion website, accessed August 2025, https://www.pbs.org.
[4] Harriet Tubman: Quotes and Legacy, Library of Congress, accessed August 2025, https://www.loc.gov.