Jeremiah's Rope and Moses Blowing on the Fire of Prayer

Rabbi Abbahu said: At the hour when Ebed-melech the Cushite went to raise up Jeremiah from the pit, what does he say to him? "Put now these worn-out rags and cast-off clothes, etc." (Jeremiah 38:12). Jeremiah said to him, "Would that I had one ladder." The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him, "Is it a ladder that you seek? [Is there not] a rope in My hand for your old age? Is it not so written, 'And she let them down by a rope through the window' (Joshua 2:15)? And likewise of you, 'And they drew up Jeremiah with ropes' (Jeremiah 38:12)." Rabbi Yehoshua of Sikhnin in the name of Rabbi Levi said: The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Moses, "You said, 'because they come to me to inquire of God' (Exodus 18:15) — that one who needs fire must blow upon it. So too you, whenever you have need of a matter, you shall come to Me." This is the meaning of what is written, "And when Moses went into the Tent of Meeting to speak with Him" (Numbers 7:89).