So Ebed-melech took the men under his authority and went into the king’s palace to a place beneath the storeroom and took from there worn-out clothes and worn-out rags and let them down by ropes into the cistern to Jeremiah. Then Ebed-melech the Ethiopian said to Jeremiah, “Now put these worn-out clothes and rags under your armpits under the ropes”; and Jeremiah did so. So they pulled Jeremiah up with the ropes and lifted him out of the cistern, and Jeremiah stayed in the court of the guardhouse. Jeremiah 28:11-13
God inspired a man named Ebed-melech to plead for Jeremiah before the king and to orchestrate his rescue from the dry cistern in which he was trapped. As he was stuck in the mud, what must have been his prayers? God moved a foreign believer to move on his behalf. I love how the extra care was given to comfort Jeremiah’s arms in the midst of the rescue. There is a great lesson here about kindness and gentleness going hand in hand when we minister to people in desperate need.
How is my bedside manner? Am I kind and gentle?
God, I feel overwhelmed at times by the many needs around me and the demands on my life, ministry, and decision making. Help me be like Jesus, both kind and gentle in helping others, solving problems and waiting for results. Thank you for the example of Ebed-melech.
