Read Jeremiah 38:1 through 40:16
Ebed-Melech went out of the palace and said to him, “My lord the king, these men have acted wickedly in all they have done to Jeremiah the prophet. They have thrown him into a cistern, where he will starve to death when there is no longer any bread in the city” (Jeremiah 38:8,9).
Upon hearing that, King Zedekiah provided Ebed-Melech the manpower he needed to rescue God’s prophet Jeremiah from the cistern.
Only a few verses earlier, this same king had said he could do nothing in opposition to officials lower in rank when they had encouraged Zedekiah to put Jeremiah to death for his prophetic messages.
One moment, Jeremiah’s life was in danger because the king refused to face opposition. The next moment, Jeremiah was saved because one man was courageously willing to speak up.
One man with authority could have made a difference, but did not. A man of lesser authority stood up and did.
Challenge for Today:
Ask God for the courage to speak up when you next have the opportunity.
(c) by Gospel Publishing House, 1445 N Boonville Ave., Springfield, Missouri, 65802