EBEDMELECH

EBEDMELECH Here’s a man in the Bible most Christians probably couldn’t tell you anything about. Ebedmelech was an Ethiopian eunuch serving in the house of King Zedekiah during the final days of Judah. Jeremiah had spent years warning Judah that judgment was coming. Babylon was going to take Jerusalem, and the princes absolutely hated him for saying it. Eventually they had enough. They took Jeremiah and lowered him into a dungeon where there was no water, only mud. “And Jeremiah sunk in the mire.” Jeremiah 38:6 KJV They left him there to die. Ebedmelech heard what happened and went directly to King Zedekiah. “My lord the king, these men have done evil in all that they have done to Jeremiah the prophet.” Jeremiah 38:9 KJV That took some serious courage. Ebedmelech wasn’t an Israelite. He wasn’t a prophet, priest, prince or military commander. He was an Ethiopian servant standing in front of the king accusing some of the most powerful men in Judah of doing evil. He was right, and he wasn’t afraid to say it. Zedekiah gave him permission to rescue Jeremiah. This next detail is probably my favorite part of the story. Ebedmelech knew Jeremiah would have to be pulled out with ropes, so he gathered old clothes and rags and lowered them into the pit first. He told Jeremiah to put them under his arms so the ropes wouldn’t cut into him while they pulled him out. Jeremiah 38:11-13 That tells you a lot about this man. He had already risked himself by confronting the king. Now he’s thinking about something as simple as making sure Jeremiah doesn’t get hurt while they’re saving his life. Then Babylon came. Jerusalem fell exactly like Jeremiah had warned. The city was destroyed, Zedekiah’s sons were killed in front of him, his eyes were put out, and he was carried to Babylon in chains. God had already decided what would happen to Ebedmelech. He would live. “For I will surely deliver thee... because thou hast put thy trust in me, saith the LORD.” Jeremiah 39:18 KJV Don’t miss why God spared him. Because he trusted Him. An entire kingdom was under judgment, but God hadn’t forgotten the Ethiopian servant who trusted Him, stood up for His prophet and did what was right when powerful men were doing evil. #MoreJoyMinistries