Does silencing God’s messenger change either the message or God? No, but it has a dangerous effect on all who ignore the message. Many will listen to the good news, but few will tolerate the bad news. Where was God when Jeremiah was thrown into the cistern and left to die?
Jeremiah 38:7-13 But Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, a eunuch, while he was in the king's palace, heard that they had put Jeremiah into the cistern.
Notice who came to Jeremiah’s defense. Not any Israelite, but an Ethiopian eunuch. Of all in the city who knew Jeremiah and should have known God, only one was brave enough to speak up and out.
Now the king was sitting in the Gate of Benjamin; and Ebed-melech went out from the king's palace and spoke to the king, saying, "My lord the king, these men have acted wickedly in all that they have done to Jeremiah the prophet whom they have cast into the cistern; and he will die right where he is because of the famine, for there is no more bread in the city."
He told the king these men had acted wickedly toward Jeremiah. He was taking a risk to go against the powerful and prominent wicked men in the city. It was the king who told them to do whatever they wanted to Jeremiah, as if he had no control or interest. He seemed to be more concerned about his future than God’s message or messenger.
Then the king commanded Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, saying, "Take thirty men from here under your authority and bring up Jeremiah the prophet from the cistern before he dies." So Ebed-melech took the men under his authority and went into the king's palace to a place beneath the storeroom and took from there worn-out clothes and worn-out rags and let them down by ropes into the cistern to Jeremiah. Then Ebed-melech the Ethiopian said to Jeremiah, "Now put these worn-out clothes and rags under your armpits under the ropes"; and Jeremiah did so.
Now the king was agreeing to free Jeremiah after just agreeing to let him die in the cistern. This is a leader who tests the winds of the times before he makes any commitment. Unfortunately, just like today, society moves back and forth with no true foundation of beliefs, other than to oppose God.
So they pulled Jeremiah up with the ropes and lifted him out of the cistern, and Jeremiah stayed in the court of the guardhouse.
Evil men wanted him dead so their message would not be challenge. This is the new truth for today in our world. They will find leaders who side with them and work hard to silence the only truth the world will ever hear.
But like Jeremiah, we are called to speak the truth even if no one will listen to us. Will you speak the truth to those who will not agree with you?