#708: 6 Leadership Lessons from Ebed-Melech: The Courage to Act and the Compassion to Care

Sometimes the most powerful leadership lessons in Scripture come from people we barely know.

Ebed-Melech is one of those people. He appears briefly in the book of Jeremiah during one of Judah’s darkest moments, does something remarkably courageous, and then largely disappears from the story.

He was not a king, prophet, or military commander. He was a Cushite and an official in the court of King Zedekiah. Yet when powerful men acted unjustly and others remained silent, Ebed-Melech acted.

His story, recorded in Jeremiah 38:1–13, is about more than rescuing the prophet Jeremiah from a muddy cistern. It is a picture of leadership under pressure. Ebed-Melech recognized injustice, spoke truth to power, developed a practical plan, anticipated the needs of a vulnerable person, and followed through.

For Christian leaders today, his example provides a simple but powerful leadership framework:

SEE → SPEAK → PLAN → PROTECT → ACT → TRUST

His story reminds us that leadership is not simply about accomplishing objectives. Godly leadership requires the courage to do what is right and the compassion to care about the people affected by our decisions.

A Prophet in a Cistern

Jerusalem was in crisis. The Babylonian army was closing in, and Jeremiah was proclaiming a message Judah’s leaders did not want to hear. He warned that Jerusalem would fall and that those who surrendered to the Babylonians would live.

Several officials accused Jeremiah of weakening the people’s resolve and demanded his death. King Zedekiah surrendered Jeremiah into their hands, and they lowered the prophet into a cistern filled with mud, leaving him there to die.

Then Ebed-Melech heard what had happened.

Others probably knew about Jeremiah’s situation, but knowing something is wrong and being willing to do something about it are very different things. Ebed-Melech decided he could not remain silent.

His response gives us six important lessons about godly leadership.

1. SEE: Leaders Notice What Others Ignore

Leadership begins with seeing. Jeremiah 38:7 tells us that Ebed-Melech “heard that they had put Jeremiah into the cistern.” Others may have known what happened, yet Ebed-Melech was the one who responded. That is often the difference between a bystander and a leader.

Every organization has problems people learn to overlook. An employee is treated unfairly. An unhealthy culture develops. A questionable business practice becomes accepted. Someone without influence is mistreated by someone who has it.

People may see these things and complain privately, yet no one takes responsibility for addressing them. Ebed-Melech reminds us that leadership often begins when someone decides, “This is wrong, and I cannot pretend I don’t see it.”

Christian leaders cannot solve every problem, but we should develop eyes that see what others overlook. Faithful leadership begins with being willing to see the truth, even when acknowledging it may require something from us.

2. SPEAK: Leaders Have the Courage to Address What Is Wrong

Ebed-Melech did more than recognize Jeremiah’s situation. He went directly to King Zedekiah, even though the men responsible for Jeremiah’s imprisonment were powerful officials.

He told the king, “My lord the king, these men have acted wickedly in all they have done to Jeremiah the prophet” (Jeremiah 38:9). Ebed-Melech did not hide behind vague language. He clearly identified what was wrong.

Christian leaders should not be unnecessarily confrontational. There is a difference between being courageous and being combative. Nevertheless, there are moments when leadership requires us to say what others are unwilling to say.

Perhaps someone is being treated unfairly. An ethical boundary is being crossed. A leader is abusing authority. Or perhaps a decision that looks good financially will have consequences no one wants to discuss.

In those moments, silence may be easier, but silence is still a decision. Ebed-Melech reminds us that doing what is right sometimes requires an uncomfortable conversation.

3. PLAN: Compassionate Leaders Think Before They Act

King Zedekiah authorized Ebed-Melech to rescue Jeremiah. Ebed-Melech could have rushed directly to the cistern, but instead, he first gathered old clothes and worn-out rags.

Why? Because he was thinking ahead.

Jeremiah was likely weak from hunger and exposure. Pulling him from the cistern with ropes under his arms could have caused significant pain or injury. Ebed-Melech anticipated the problem before the rescue began.

His compassion produced urgency, but his wisdom produced a plan.

Good intentions are not enough. Effective leaders consider what resources are needed, what could go wrong, who should be involved, and what unintended consequences might result from their decisions.

Compassion should motivate us to act, but wisdom should guide how we act. Ebed-Melech did not simply have a good heart. He had a good plan.

4. PROTECT: Great Leaders Remember the Person

The old rags may be my favorite detail in the entire story.

Ebed-Melech lowered them into the cistern and told Jeremiah, “Put these old rags and worn-out clothes under your arms to pad the ropes” (Jeremiah 38:12).

The mission was simple: get Jeremiah out of the cistern. The ropes could accomplish the mission, but Ebed-Melech was thinking about more than the mission. He was thinking about Jeremiah.

A results-oriented leader might ask, “How do we get him out?” Ebed-Melech effectively asked, “How do we get him out without hurting him?”

That is compassionate leadership.

Leaders make decisions every day that affect people’s lives. We restructure organizations, eliminate positions, address poor performance, resolve conflicts, change strategies, and cut budgets. Sometimes difficult decisions are necessary, but the necessity of a decision does not excuse us from considering how it affects people.

The old rags remind us that how we accomplish something matters.

As leaders, perhaps we should ask, “Where are the old rags in this decision?” What small act of thoughtfulness could reduce someone’s pain? What conversation should happen face-to-face instead of through an email? How can we preserve someone’s dignity even when the outcome is difficult?

We may not always be able to change the decision, but we can often change how someone experiences it.

5. ACT: Leaders Follow Through

Jeremiah 38:13 tells us, “So they pulled Jeremiah up with the ropes and lifted him out of the cistern.” Ebed-Melech had seen the problem, spoken to the king, secured authorization, gathered resources, and developed a plan. Then he acted.

Leadership frequently breaks down between intention and execution. Leaders identify problems, hold meetings, develop plans, and assign responsibilities. Yet sometimes nothing actually happens.

There comes a point when analysis must become action. The difficult conversation must happen. The decision must be made. The injustice must be addressed.

Ebed-Melech did not stop when the king agreed with him. He stopped when Jeremiah was out of the cistern.

There is an important difference between discussing a problem and solving it.

6. TRUST: Faithful Leaders Leave the Outcome to God

The story of Ebed-Melech does not end with Jeremiah’s rescue. Later, as Jerusalem faced destruction, God sent Jeremiah with a personal message for him. God promised that Ebed-Melech would be spared from the coming disaster.

God explained why: “‘I will save you; you will not fall by the sword but will escape with your life, because you trust in me,’ declares the Lord” (Jeremiah 39:18).

Here we see the foundation beneath Ebed-Melech’s actions. His courage was rooted in faith. He was willing to confront powerful officials and stand for what was right because he trusted God.

Faith does not eliminate risk from leadership. Faith changes whom we trust when we face the risk.

Christian leaders sometimes find themselves in situations where doing the right thing carries consequences. Speaking up may affect a promotion. Challenging an unethical practice may strain relationships. Defending someone may make us unpopular.

We cannot always control the outcome, but we can control whether we will be faithful. Ebed-Melech trusted God and acted accordingly.

The Ebed-Melech Leadership Framework

Ebed-Melech’s story gives us a practical framework for leadership:

SEE what others overlook. Pay attention to people and problems that are easy to ignore.

SPEAK when silence allows something wrong to continue. Have the courage to address difficult issues.

PLAN before acting. Compassion creates urgency, but wisdom considers resources, risks, and consequences.

PROTECT the dignity of people affected by your decisions. Never become so focused on the mission that you forget the person.

ACT with determination. Move beyond good intentions and follow through.

TRUST God with the consequences. Faithful leadership allows us to act courageously because our ultimate confidence rests in Him.

Together, these six principles offer a model of leadership that combines courage and compassion, conviction and wisdom, faith and action.

Where Are the Old Rags?

Of all the details in Ebed-Melech’s story, I keep coming back to those old rags. They were ordinary and inexpensive, yet they reveal something profound about the heart of a leader.

Ebed-Melech did not simply see Jeremiah as a problem that needed to be solved. He saw him as a person who needed to be cared for.

We can become so focused on goals, strategies, budgets, deadlines, and results that we forget the people affected by our decisions. We may accomplish exactly what we set out to accomplish and still leave wounded people behind us.

Ebed-Melech shows us another way. He had the courage to confront injustice, the wisdom to develop a plan, the determination to act, and the faith to trust God. But he also remembered the old rags.

Perhaps one of the most important questions we can ask ourselves as leaders is not simply, “What needs to be accomplished?” We should also ask, “How can I accomplish it in a way that reflects the heart of God toward the people He has entrusted to my leadership?”

Sometimes great leadership looks like courageously confronting a king. Sometimes it looks like pulling a prophet out of a cistern.

And sometimes it looks like remembering to bring the old rags.

Action Steps for Leaders

Ebed-Melech’s example challenges us to move beyond admiring courageous leadership to practicing it.

1. Look for what others are overlooking. Identify one person or problem that needs attention.
2. Have the necessary conversation. Consider whether you have remained silent about something that should be addressed.
3. Think before you act. Consider the consequences and human impact of important decisions.
4. Find the “old rags.” Look for a small act of compassion that could protect someone’s dignity or reduce unnecessary pain.
5. Trust God enough to act. Do what you know is right and trust Him with the consequences.

Discussion Questions

Use these questions to reflect on Ebed-Melech’s example personally or with your leadership team.

1. What problems in your workplace are easy to see but difficult to address?
2. When have you faced a situation where speaking up carried a personal or professional risk?
3. How can leaders balance the urgency to act with the need to plan carefully?
4. What are some examples of “old rags” that can preserve people’s dignity during difficult decisions?
5. Which part of the framework—SEE, SPEAK, PLAN, PROTECT, ACT, or TRUST—is most challenging for you right now?

More Articles

I have written several articles on Courage/Risk-Taking. You can find them by typing “Courage/Risk-Taking” in the search bar. Meanwhile, here are several of my favorites.

• #666: Bridging the Bravery Gap in Leadership: Choosing Courage When Comfort Calls
• #657: 4 Leadership Lessons from Joshua: Be Strong and Courageous in the Face of Challenge
• #650: He Makes Brave Those He Calls: Faith and Courage in the Workplace
• #615: 5 Leadership Lessons from Jehosheba: A Legacy Hidden in Plain Sight
• #610: Conquering Fear: Lessons from 4 Biblical Leaders on Trusting in God

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Category: Personal Development | Courage/Risk-Taking