Jeremiah Rescued from the Mud

Jeremiah was a prophet with a very hard job. God told him to warn the people of Jerusalem that their city would be captured because they had disobeyed God. Nobody wanted to hear this! The soldiers fighting to protect Jerusalem especially didn't like it.

Some angry leaders went to the king. 'Jeremiah is making our soldiers give up! He keeps saying we'll lose! He should be killed!'

King Zedekiah was afraid of these powerful men. 'Fine,' he said. 'Do what you want.'

The men grabbed Jeremiah and took him to a deep pit called a cistern. It was used to collect rainwater, but now it just had thick, sticky mud at the bottom. They lowered Jeremiah down with ropes and left him there!

Poor Jeremiah! He sank into the cold, gooey mud. There was no water, no food, and no way to climb out. He was left there to die.

But someone heard what happened. His name was Ebed-Melech, and he was from a country called Cush, far away in Africa. He worked in the king's palace, and he was BRAVE.

Ebed-Melech went straight to the king. 'Those men did a wicked thing! Jeremiah will starve to death in that pit!'

The king listened to Ebed-Melech. 'Take thirty men and pull Jeremiah out before he dies!'

Ebed-Melech was smart and kind. He found old rags and worn-out clothes. He lowered them down to Jeremiah and said, 'Put these under your arms so the ropes won't hurt you!'

Then they pulled Jeremiah up, up, up out of the mud!

Jeremiah was saved! He kept speaking God's message until the city fell, just as God said it would. And God blessed Ebed-Melech for his courage. When Jerusalem was destroyed, Ebed-Melech was kept safe because he trusted in God.

Sometimes doing the right thing takes courage. Ebed-Melech wasn't afraid to help God's prophet, and God rewarded his bravery!