Doing the "right thing" and faithfully walking with the Lord can bring challenges. Most often what our Heavenly Father asks of us is contrary to the majority around us. To stand against evil takes unwavering commitment to God for obedience to follow.
Reading about Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, I had to recall what he had done that resulted in rescue. Turning back to Jeremiah 38, I was reminded how the officials, offended and opposed to Jeremiah's message, had been granted permission from King Zedekiah to do whatever they wanted with the prophet. In an act of defiance and cruelty, they "lowered him by ropes into an empty cistern in the prison yard." Scripture tells us that "there was no water in the cistern, but there was a thick layer of mud at the bottom, and Jeremiah sank down into it."
Enter our unexpected hero! Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, heard about Jeremiah's plight, rushed to the palace to report to the king and was given permission to take thirty men with him and pull the prophet from the pit before he died. He risked everything to do the right thing and was now being rewarded by God.
There are blessings for trusting the Lord and walking in obedience. This story brings to mind other faithful followers like Esther, Daniel, David, Rahab, Caleb, Joshua and so many others who took tremendous steps of faith. It also shifts my thoughts to precious Christ-followers in our day who despite all the darts thrown their way, unexpected situations, heartache and pain, illness and loss, consciously choose to keep walking through difficulties with love, grace and praise.
Just a couple of days ago I heard a testimony of a couple who have every reason to be in despair. Hard knock after hard knock have been pelting on their door, yet an unbeliever watching them is taking note. This couples attitude, response and respect is being noticed by one who has resisted the Lord for years. This observer is marveling at the grace and peace being evidenced by his friends. This onlooker, having never seen such a response before, is lost for words. The unwavering trust being evidenced is unexplainable as this family continues to do what is right in a God-honouring way.
But others around us are not the only ones who notice when we choose to follow the Lord. God Himself takes note. Ebed-melech had not been promised a blessing for his actions that day with Jeremiah, but God saw all he had done and rescued him, just as the Ethiopian had rescued the prophet. I think sometimes when blessings do not immediately follow obedience we can question if God has even seen our actions, but rest assured He does. Because Ebed-melech had trusted in the Lord, his life was spared.
Ebed-melech represents those who stand alone. His life is an illustration for times when we feel insignificant. God desires to use every life for His purposes. This very-little-known hero also gives evidence to the truth that situations can change. The same king who gave Jeremiah's accusers full reign to put him in the cistern, now not only agrees to the Ethiopian's request to recover him, but sends men to assist as well. We can never allow a situation to seem defeated. Not with our God. Ebed-melech did not resign himself to the evidence at hand, but persisted in doing the next right thing, believing that circumstances can change. Sometimes it only takes one person. And God blessed his actions, rewarding him with protection and life.
What step can you take today in the midst of uncertainty? God is still a Rescuer and there are blessings that follow steps of trust.
No comments:
Post a Comment