Meanwhile the word of the Lord had come to Jeremiah while he was shut up in the court of the prison, saying, “Go and speak to Ebed-Melech the Ethiopian, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: “Behold, I will bring My words upon this city for adversity and not for good, and they shall be performed in that day before you. But I will deliver you in that day,” says the Lord, “and you shall not be given into the hand of the men of whom you are afraid. For I will surely deliver you, and you shall not fall by the sword; but your life shall be as a prize to you, because you have put your trust in Me,” says the Lord.’” — Jeremiah 39:18 (NKJV)

This statement made by God to Jeremiah for the Ethiopian eunuch, Ebed-Melech, might be overlooked because it is uttered almost as an afterthought once Jerusalem has fallen. It is however as near perfect a statement of God’s message to humanity as is contained in Scripture. I will deliver you if you put your trust in Me, is the very essence of what God has told the Israelites for thousands of years; and it is the nucleus of the Gospel message of Jesus Christ. 

It is made all the more powerful in that this word is given to one other than a Jew; God’s grace and mercy is offered to all who trust Him, even an Ethiopian eunuch. Peter tells us that “all scripture is profitable,” and here, tucked in an out of the way place is one of the great truths of the Bible — those who put their trust in the Lord will be delivered. 

Even as God was destroying Jerusalem and Judah for their unfaithfulness, He was delivering a mere gentile in their midst, a gentile, considered by the Jews to be unclean and beneath their consideration. Yet, here, surrounded by the unfaithful Jews, was a gentile who trusted Him, one who might have been considered insignificant to those around him, and yet God sent one of His greatest prophets to bring Ebed-Melech the good news!

What a great lesson for us all — the crowds of naysayers and unbelievers that sometimes overwhelm us can not affect our relationship with God if we continue to trust Him. Praise God!

Rev. Bobby Thornhill is a retired pastor.