The city was surrounded by the enemy. Inside the city, because of the siege, it was “every man for himself”. No food. No escape. One voice kept declaring that unless people turned to God, there was no hope. As expected, those clinging to power silenced that voice. They tossed him into a deep well thinking he’d never be heard of again. You can read the story in detail in the Bible, Jeremiah 38. There you will also meet Ebed-Melek the African who recognized this injustice and took action. On top of his courage the kindness of Ebed-Melek the African took particular care of the prophet’s fragile condition providing rags to soften the ropes used to pull Jeremiah out of the well. Ebed-Melek the African teaches me that even when outnumbered by wrong-doers, even when I may have nothing to share, I cannot ignore injustice. And injustice is overcome not by force but kindness. Oh, and God sees as He saw Ebed-Melek the African. (Jeremiah 39:16,18) “Go and tell Ebed-Melek the Cushite, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: you will not be given into the hands of those you fear. I will save you; you will not fall by the sword but will escape with your life, because you trust in me, declares the Lord.’” PK
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