Are You an Ebed-Melek or Do You Need One?

Are you familiar with Ebed-Melek?
If you have read the story of Jeremiah being thrown into a cistern, I think you have also read about Ebed-Melek.

Just a short background:
Jeremiah has been prophesying in the name of the Lord. Most of it though, he is speaking about harm, disasters, famines, etc.
So the officials who heard him were so mad at him that they plotted to kill Jeremiah, to which king Zedekiah said: “He is in your hands, the king can do nothing to oppose you!”

And so they took Jeremiah and put him into the cistern (underground reservoir) which by the time they threw Jeremiah, had no water in it, only mud. And so, he sank into the mud.

Then there was Ebed-Melek.

He was a Eunuch, a royal ‘servant’!
He was aware of what the officials had done to Jeremiah.
And was not in favor of it because he believed in the God of Jeremiah knowing that everything he prophesied came true.

So, he went and pleaded with the king even if during their times, it was not easy to speak to the king. Ebed-Melek stepped up and dared to approach the king saying that the officials had acted wickedly in what they’d done to Jeremiah.

Then the king, whose decisions are kind of affected by the people he is talking with, commanded Ebed-Melek to take thirty men with him and lift Jeremiah out of the cistern before he would die there.

Before they went to the cistern, Ebed-Melek went to a room to get some rags and worn-out clothes so Jeremiah could use them to wrap around the rope to protect his armpits. He thought that Jeremiah must have been so stressed and weak.
This part showed us that Ebed-Melek has a caring heart, he has compassion and empathy!

Do we have that? Yes, we should have!

God has rescued Jeremiah by using Ebed-Melek!

This story is also a beautiful picture of how Jesus, after seeing us being buried in sin, decided to get to the King and let himself become the sacrifice for our salvation.

It is impressive how God can send us anyone whenever we need it and wherever we are in our lives.

So whenever needed, may we step up, speak up and be available.
God might save others’ lives by using us!
Our lives these days can sometimes put us so down, so far that it seems impossible to come out again.
We, ourselves, often make it happen, but on some occasions, others push us.
Whatever it is, hoping and praying that whenever we see ourselves down at the bottom, we can rest assured that God will send an Ebed-Melek to us.

The best part of Ebed-Melek’s story was when Jeremiah received a message from God.

In Chapter 39, verse 16.
God said, “Go and tell Ebed-Melek, this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel says:
I am about to fulfill my words against this city, words concerning disaster, not prosperity.
At that time, they will be fulfilled before your eyes.

But, in verse 17, BUT, I will rescue you on that day. You will not be given into the hands of those you fear.

Take note: God rescues the rescuer!!!

And in verse 18, I will save you because you trust in me, declares the Lord.

Indeed, Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. Jer 17:7

Now, let us pause for a moment to thank God for giving us people who helped, rescue, and prayed for us when we needed it the most!

In the same way, let us also include in our prayers those people who need rescuing.

Because for sure, God will give us his 30 men, not literal men, but it can be of any form that will help us in our rescue operation!

We just wanna continue to lift one another and be a rescue to anyone who needs it.

And may we live in such a way that God can use us whenever He wants to rescue someone out of the dark. And have the confidence that God will rescue the rescuers, too!

He puts us where we are right now for a reason and he has made us who we are for a particular purpose!

So, to whom do you think you can be an Ebed-Melek today?

Lay down any excuses and make yourself available to do what needs to be done.
Amen?