E Is for Ebed-Melek

Read, or have older children find and read, Jeremiah 38:8-9. Then read the following story with your children.

Ebed-Melek was an army officer from Sudan who served the king of Israel. The king’s own men had taken the prophet Jeremiah and thrown him into a huge underground tank filled with mud. When Ebed-Melek learned what the king’s men had done, he went to the king and begged him to save Jeremiah from their evil plan. The king agreed and sent Ebed-Melek with 30 men to rescue Jeremiah. They gently pulled Jeremiah out of the tank with ropes covered in rags so that Jeremiah would not get hurt. The king’s men were not happy with Ebed-Melek’s rescue plan. God blessed this Sudanese officer for his bravery and his compassion.

Questions to ask your children

1. Can you find Sudan on a map?

2. Why do you think it took so many men to get Jeremiah out of the well?

3. If you were asked to be brave and save someone who was being hurt, even if your friends didn’t agree, would you do it?

Prayer

Ask God to help you be brave and compassionate.