The Unseemingly Safest Place...

Even though this seems contradictory to the unbeliever, the safest place you will ever be is right smack dab in the middle of God's will. Even if His will involves war, famine, violence, destruction, evil, sickness, or death. Here Jeremiah is living proof of this being true. Jerusalem is under attack, being conquered, exiling off some to Babylon, while killing some and leaving the poorest to tend to its needs. The king of Babylon tells his captain of the guard to find Jeremiah and take care of him. How is this possible? The enemy of Israel, an unbelieving pagan, knew to find Jeremiah and save him amid the destruction of the city. Jeremiah could've fled, fought back, or surrendered. He chose to listen to God, and ended up rescued, saved from death and captivity. He was given several options, all allowed him to be free. Just think, he was imprisoned by his own people for telling them the truth, and the enemy who came to destroy his city ended up freeing him, providing for him, and giving him the option of living with them, all the while protecting him from danger. Only our God could orchestrate such an event.

8 Meanwhile, the Babylonians burned Jerusalem, including the palace, and tore down the walls of the city. 9 Then Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, sent to Babylon the rest of the people who remained in the city as well as those who had defected to him. 10 But Nebuzaradan left a few of the poorest people in Judah, and he assigned them vineyards and fields to care for. Jeremiah Remains in Judah 11 King Nebuchadnezzar had told Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, to find Jeremiah. 12 “See that he isn’t hurt,” he said. “Look after him well, and give him anything he wants.” 13 So Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard; Nebushazban, a chief officer; Nergal-sharezer, the king’s adviser; and the other officers of Babylon’s king 14 sent messengers to bring Jeremiah out of the prison. They put him under the care of Gedaliah son of Ahikam and grandson of Shaphan, who took him back to his home. So Jeremiah stayed in Judah among his own people.15 The Lord had given the following message to Jeremiah while he was still in prison: 16 “Say to Ebed-melech the Ethiopian,[Y] ‘This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says: I will do to this city everything I have threatened. I will send disaster, not prosperity. You will see its destruction, 17 but I will rescue you from those you fear so much. 18 Because you trusted Me, I will give you your life as a reward. I will rescue you and keep you safe. I, the Lord, have spoken!’ ” Jeremiah 39:8-18
The Lord gave a message to Jeremiah after Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, had released him at Ramah. He had found Jeremiah bound in chains among all the other captives of Jerusalem and Judah who were being sent to exile in Babylon.2 The captain of the guard called for Jeremiah and said, “The Lord your God has brought this disaster on this land, 3 just as He said He would. For these people have sinned against the Lord and disobeyed Him. That is why it happened. 4 But I am going to take off your chains and let you go. If you want to come with me to Babylon, you are welcome. I will see that you are well cared for. But if you don’t want to come, you may stay here. The whole land is before you–go wherever you like. 5 If you decide to stay, then return to Gedaliah son of Ahikam and grandson of Shaphan. He has been appointed governor of Judah by the king of Babylon. Stay there with the people he rules. But it’s up to you; go wherever you like.”Then Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, gave Jeremiah some food and money and let him go. 6 So Jeremiah returned to Gedaliah son of Ahikam at Mizpah, and he lived in Judah with the few who were still left in the land. Jeremiah 40:1-6