Help from the Unexpected

The situation is dire.

You feel completely alone, unsure and lost without hope. Circumstances, beyond your control, have lead you to a place of difficultly and you struggle to find a solution. Your mind races to solve the equation that seems more complicated than college trigonometry and you wrestle with emotions so overwhelming you can barely function.

Suddenly your phone rings, and the voice on the other end, one of which you barely know, speaks words of comfort, reassurance and deliverance. A helping hand emerged, and it was not what you expected.

I’m not sure if you have ever experienced a time in your life when the season you found yourself in was endless ice and winter, to the point you dared not hope for the refreshing of spring for fear it would never come, but I suspect many of you have.

Our world is full of tragedy, heartbreak, mistakes that lead us down extremely dark paths or just plan evil intent against us. However it should happen that you land in a deep, precarious pit, I am struck with wonder over a God Who sees, hears and knows our despair. There is no hole too massive in depth His hand cannot pull you from- and sometimes the rescue comes in a way we least expect it.

I am currently studying through the Old Testament book of Jeremiah, and I was struck this past week of one such situation the prophet found himself in and the intervention that followed. Let us read the following scripture, and afterward I will give a few thoughts.

Jeremiah 38:1-13

Now Shephatiah son of Mattan, Gedaliah son of Pashhur, Jehucal son of Shelemiah, and Pashhur son of Malkijah heard what Jeremiah had been telling the people. He had been saying, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Everyone who stays in Jerusalem will die from war, famine, or disease, but those who surrender to the Babylonians will live. Their reward will be life. They will live! The Lord also says: ‘The city of Jerusalem will certainly be handed over to the army of the king of Babylon, who will capture it.’” So these officials went to the king and said, “Sir, this man must die! That kind of talk will undermine the morale of the few fighting men we have left, as well as that of all the people. This man is a traitor!”

King Zedekiah agreed. “All right,” he said. “Do as you like. I can’t stop you.” So the officials took Jeremiah from his cell and lowered him by ropes into an empty cistern in the prison yard. It belonged to Malkijah, a member of the royal family. There was no water in the cistern, but there was a thick layer of mud at the bottom, and Jeremiah sank down into it.

But Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, an important court official, heard that Jeremiah was in the cistern. At that time the king was holding court at the Benjamin Gate, so Ebed-melech rushed from the palace to speak with him. “My lord the king,” he said, “these men have done a very evil thing in putting Jeremiah the prophet into the cistern. He will soon die of hunger for almost all the bread in the city is gone.” So the king told Ebed-melech, “Take thirty of my men with you, and pull Jeremiah out of the cistern before he dies.”

So Ebed-melech took the men with him and went to a room in the palace beneath the treasury, where he found some old rags and discarded clothing. He carried these to the cistern and lowered them to Jeremiah on a rope. Ebed-melech called down to Jeremiah, “Put these rags under your armpits to protect you from the ropes.” Then when Jeremiah was ready, they pulled him out. So Jeremiah was returned to the courtyard of the guard- the palace prison- where he remained.

I wondered as I read this story, who Ebed-melech was, and why he cared whether Jeremiah would live or die? In one translation I read of the same passage, it expanded a little more regarding the Ethiopian’s position in the palace, naming him a eunuch. Since we see he had full access to approach and speak to the king (vs 8-9), we can rightly assume this man must have been the head eunuch, in charge of all the servants closest to the king in his royal court.

We are told little more about this official who saved the life of the prophet. But as I pondered, I came to the belief that Ebed-melech had been hearing the words Jeremiah was speaking, and he fully believed him to be a man of God. Why else would he use his powers of persuasion to influence King Zedekiah and sway his mind to let this prophet live? And not only did he believe him to be a man of God, Ebed-melech must have feared this God of the Israeli people, and know that He was very powerful and to be respected.

On top of this, the Ethiopian must have been very highly esteemed by the king, for when the group of officials within his royal counsel approached him to complain against Jeremiah, they did not hide their intensions to kill him (vs 4), the king agreed to their plan (vs 5) and did nothing to stop them (vs 5). What was it about Ebed-melech that gave him such great favor with Zedekiah? How was he able to change the mind of the king, and set Jeremiah free?

This detail is not revealed, nor are we told the relationship between the king’s servant and the prophet. Did they converse often while the man of God was being held captive in the palace jail? Did they see each other on the streets of the city during times Jeremiah was presenting a proclamation from the Lord? Or did Jeremiah even know him at all? We will never know, but I couldn’t help but think how amazing it is that God will use all resources necessary to come to the aid of His children, and sometimes that aid will come from the most unexpected people or places.

“But, Brandy,” you say. “Jeremiah was delivered out of the pit, but they still put him back in prison. Not much of a rescue if you ask me.”

Well, I’m glad you brought that up! Let us read on:

Jeremiah 39:11-14

King Nebuchadnezzar had told Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, to find Jeremiah. “See that he isn’t hurt,” he said. “Look after him well, and give him anything he wants.” So Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard; Nebushazban, a chief officer; Nergal-sharezer, the king’s adviser; and the other officers of Babylon’s king sent messengers to bring Jeremiah out of the prison. They put him under the care of Gedaliah son of Ahikam and grandson of Shaphan, who took him back to his house. So Jeremiah stayed in Judah among his own people.”

At this point in our story, King Nebuchadnezzar has taken all of Jerusalem captive. I’m sure you are familiar with another story and prophet connected to this king, who, during the take-over, enslaved the best and brightest of what Israel had to offer, aka - Daniel, Shadrack, Meshach and Abednego.

The lives of the aging prophet Jeremiah and the up and coming, younger spokesman for God, Daniel, would intersect and both would receive deliverance in ways only our mighty God could perform. Our Lord would use this heathen, Gentile king to protect His people and further the will and plan for His Kingdom on earth.

Again I wonder, how did Nebuchadnezzar know about Jeremiah? Why was he so concerned to make sure this prophet was taken care of and provided for? He didn’t even believe in the Hebrew God of the scriptures, so why ensure this man was able to go home to his people? Rescue, once again, came from the most unexpected place.

I have two brief points I would like for you to consider regarding these moments in Jeremiah’s life we have read:

Point #1

If you find yourself currently in a deeply troubling season, please take heart and cling to hope knowing God is fully aware of your situation. Jeremiah’s redemption took some time, years in fact- but help did come!

You are not forgotten.

You are beyond words valuable in the Father’s eyes.

I pray strength over your weary bones this week. I ask the Lord for a fresh move of the Holy Spirit to cover you and give you the perseverance to keep steppin’ and moving forward. I am believing in our God Who still performs the impossible, to draw close to you in your time of need.

Finally, I ask the Lord to bring help, in whatever way He sees fit. God, redeem Your sons and daughters from the pit they have found themselves in and rescue them from the snare of the enemy. Pull them up and out, and set their feet on the Rock that will not be moved!

Point #2

Perhaps you find yourself in a season of prosperity and goodness. The air on the mountain top is sweet and refreshing. Praise God for your sunrise, but I encourage and challenge you to look around and see those who are hurting and broken.

Just as the Father used an Ethiopian eunuch and an ungodly, pagan king to rescue one of his children, you too can be the vessel God will use to pull a friend, or even a stranger, from their pit of despair.

Our Lord only needs a willing heart and a servant who will be obedient to His word. There is no greater honor, dear friends, than to be used by our King. We live in a world that is grower darker with every sunrise. Now is not the time to shrink back or stay in our comfy bubbles. We need to engage in the battle and never forget the first rule of war- No man left behind.

So, let us pray that we would become someone’s unexpected help in time of need and pull them from their pit to safety!