STANDING in the GAP on BEHALF of OTHERS
STANDING in the GAP on BEHALF of OTHERS
"So I sought for a man among them who
would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I
should not destroy it; but I found no one. Therefore, I have poured out My
indignation on them; I have consumed them with the fire of My wrath; and I have
recompensed their deeds on their own heads," says the Lord God. (Ezek
22:30-31)
In one of
the saddest verses in the book of Ezekiel, God Himself confesses that He found
no one who could stand in the gap in order to stem the tide that would
inevitably bring destruction (v. 30). God could not find a qualified spiritual
leader to stand before God in intercession and lead the people to repentance.
- “Making a wall” gives an image of leading the people
to repentance. This is what God had to say about the false prophets earlier: "You have not gone up into the gaps to
build a wall for the house of Israel to stand in battle on the day of the
Lord." (Ezek 13:5)
- “Standing in the gap” gives an image of interceding to God
for His people (Genesis 20:7; Exodus 32:11; Numbers 16:48). In the history of
Israel, God had raised up “gap people”
to stand in the breach and stay off the judgment. Moses and Phinehas were such
men (Psalms 106:23, 30), as were Joseph (Psalms 105:17) and Samuel (1 Samuel
3).
The imagery here is also that of a wall with a section broken
down by a siege. If no soldier stands in the gap to repulse the enemy, the city
surely will be taken. God represented Himself as against His people, and He was
unable to find anyone who could turn away the coming judgment (see Ezek.
14:13–20). All classes of society were guilty before the Lord — rulers (v. 25);
priests (v. 26); magistrates (v. 27); prophets (v. 28); and people (v. 29). Thus,
not a righteous person, a reformer or an intercessor could be found in Israel
to stand before God.
God is not
looking for new methods or programs, but is looking for “gap people” with the courage to stand for what is right, even if
they must stand alone. They will not only build strong walls but become walls
by standing in the gap in the hour of danger. As the “gap people” we can act as go-betweens in the troubles around us by
“standing in the gap” to bridge
chasms of indifference and oppression. We can do what we can to stem the tide
of evil and tell others of the opportunity to know God through His Son Jesus Christ.
Above all, we can earnestly intercede to God on behalf of others in prayer.
Remember, one person can make all the difference! Will that person be YOU?
