She Could Not Read But She Knew God: Harriet Tubmans Faith Freed 70 Slaves And Changed America Forever

Harriet Tubman's Unshakable Faith: How One Woman's Trust In God Freed Dozens From Slavery

As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, the life of Harriet Tubman stands as one of the most powerful examples of courage, faith, and sacrifice in the nation's history.

Born into slavery in Maryland around 1822, Tubman was raised in the Methodist Church. Though she never learned to read or write, she memorized long passages of Scripture from a young age, drawing strength from the Word of God throughout her entire life.

Around the age of 27, Tubman escaped bondage and fled to Pennsylvania. But rather than settling into her own freedom, she felt called by God to return to the South again and again. Over the course of more than a dozen rescue missions through the Underground Railroad, Tubman helped lead nearly 70 enslaved individuals to freedom, including members of her own family.

Her courage and leadership earned her the nickname "Moses," a reference to the biblical leader who led the Israelites out of bondage in Egypt.

I never ran my train off the track, and I never lost a passenger.

Tubman's friends and fellow abolitionists attributed the source of her strength to her deep and unwavering faith in God as deliverer and protector of the weak. She grew up during the Second Great Awakening, a Protestant religious revival that swept through the United States.

When the Civil War began in 1861, Tubman returned to the front lines. She worked as a nurse for displaced families and wounded soldiers and later served as a Union spy, using her knowledge of secret routes and terrain.

A presidential message issued on March 10, 2026, as part of the America 250 celebration, honored Tubman as "the fearless freedom fighter, whose courage and sacrifice liberated scores of men and women from the chains of bondage."

Harriet Tubman passed away on March 10, 1913, having dedicated her life to the principle that every person is endowed by God with inherent dignity and the unalienable right to freedom.

The Faith That Drove Harriet Tubman's Underground Railroad Missions

Tubman's Christian faith was the thread that tied all of her remarkable achievements together. Every decision she made, from risking her life on rescue missions to serving on the battlefield, was rooted in her belief that God had called her to deliver His people from oppression.

Her legacy stands as a testament to what happens when one person fully surrenders to God's will, no matter the cost.

The Crusader's Opinion

Harriet Tubman did not have a seminary degree. She could not read. But she knew the God of the Bible, and she trusted Him with her life. Every single mission back into the belly of slavery was an act of faith so radical that most modern Christians cannot even fathom it. She did not ask permission. She did not wait for a committee to approve her calling. She heard God, and she moved. That is what real Christianity looks like. Not comfortable pews and lukewarm sermons, but boots on the ground, chains being broken, and lives being saved. If we want to honor her legacy, we had better start living with that same fire.

Take Action

• Visit the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park in Maryland to learn about her faith and legacy firsthand.
• Support persecuted Christians around the world through The Shepherd's Shield (www.TheShepherdsShield.org) and Open Doors USA, carrying on Tubman's spirit of fighting for the oppressed.
• Teach your children and your church about the Christian roots of the abolitionist movement. Share the story of Harriet Tubman's faith in your next Bible study or small group.
• Support the America 250 Foundation and participate in local events honoring the faith and courage of American heroes like Tubman.
• Pray for persecuted believers worldwide who, like Tubman, risk everything for their faith. Join prayer networks through Voice of the Martyrs.