Using our Nothing-ness!

      There is an interesting story buried in the middle of the Bible in the book of Jeremiah about the prophet of whom the book is named.  You may recall the story when Jeremiah preached yet another hard lesson and the people in charge didn't like it.  They lowered him into a miry pit - a cistern or dungeon where there was no water. 
     If you ever thought for one moment that you did not have any skills, gifts or talents, this story will shatter that persuasion.  People often compare themselves to sparkling and extraordinary names and fame to conclude, "Well, I'll never be like that!  I was never given a gift or talent that would allow me to accomplish anything or to advance a cause or a purpose." Society is inclined to think that things that sparkle have the most influence.

     Jeremiah, one of the great prophets of the Old Testament, now finds himself imprisoned and forgotten in a dark pit.   But God is always up to something.
A man, using his nothing-ness, actually saves Jeremiah.  The man's name is Ebed-melech.  Had you ever heard of him before? Exactly! He has the "Ministry of the Unnoticed," as Oswald Chambers writes about.  He was an Ethiopian and a eunuch in King Zedekiah's house, and he approaches the king on behalf of Jeremiah.  He pleads for Jeremiah's life, to which the king replies, "...take 30 men with you and raise Jeremiah the prophet out of the cistern pit before he dies." (Jeremiah 38:10)
    Ebed-melech goes to a room under the treasury, a place where sparkling wealth is stored, and gathers "old rags and worn-out garments."  He then throws them down to Jeremiah instructing him to place them under his armpits.  Next, the men throw down a rope, and as instructed, Jeremiah places the rope under his armpits which are protected by the rags.  They pull him up from the pit, saving his life.
    We can not claim that old rags and worn-out garments possess sparkle.   In this story, they lay quietly beneath all that sparkled. They became the true wealth in this story and used at just the right time, they became the answer.

        Ultimately, Jesus is our true Deliverer, but He uses our words and actions to deliver, too.  We may be the only light at the end of a dark tunnel for some who feel imprisoned and forgotten. 
   If we feed on the tendency to underestimate what we have to offer others, just stay at the table of this story.
Our skills, talents, and gifts may not be sparkling, but digging deeper, we can find the "rags and worn-out garments" that can lift someone out of their dark place
Use what you have!


Keep Looking up!  ...and thank you for following our Steppingstones.

J:m and L:nda