We’ve been going through Galatians for our morning BSG, and in particular Galatians 3:1-9 where Paul writes in verse 9: “So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.”  Paul has been making the case against the Judaizers that what justifies a person is God’s grace through faith and not by works.  The Judaizers were claiming that their righteousness comes through their identity as Jews, a people of the covenant through Abraham.  And since this covenant was sealed by circumcision, Gentile converts would have to be circumcised in order to receive the blessings of the Abrahamic covenant.  However, Paul makes it quite clear in Galatians 3:1-9, concluding with verse 9, that this simply is not the case.

Well, I’ve been reading Jeremiah for my devotional reading (and enjoying Jeremiah very much).  And I came across Jeremiah 39:16-18 which reads:

Go, and say to Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I will fulfill my words against this city for harm and not for good, and they shall be accomplished before you on that day. 17 But I will deliver you on that day, declares the Lord, and you shall not be given into the hand of the men of whom you are afraid. 18 For I will surely save you, and you shall not fall by the sword, but you shall have your life as a prize of war, because you have put your trust in me, declares the Lord.’

Ebed-melech had saved Jeremiah’s life earlier, pleading with King Zedekiah to remove him from the cistern of mud where he sure would have died.  And as a result, not of his work, but of his faith in the Lord, God has decided to save him.  This struck me considering that 1) Ebed-melech, as an Ethiopian, is a Gentile, 2) He’s a eunuch (Jer 38:7) and so he could never be circumcised even if he wanted to be, 3) His act of kindness and love towards Jeremiah seemed like a work, 4) and yet, God saw his heart and calls it trust (faith) in Him.  If there was ever an instance where Galatians 3:9 rings true, it would be in the case of Ebed-melech.  He is saved (‘For I will surely save you’) because of his faith and receives the blessings of knowing God along with Abraham.