Ezekiel 22:30-31
30 And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none. 31 Therefore I have poured out my indignation upon them. I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath. I have returned their way upon their heads, declares the Lord God.”
Ok, so we're skipping ahead this morning. In the intervening chapters since our last reading, there have been judgments spoken about Israel, and there have been laments for the princes of Israel. Also, prophecies concerning the Babylonians and the people's sins have been detailed again.
These two verses we are looking at today are very sad for me. God looks for someone who will stand in the gap for the land…, but there is none.
Wow, there isn’t even one person, and so there are consequences, horrible consequences for the land and for the people.
In the Bible, there have been other times when people have stood in the gap and have pleaded with the Lord on behalf of the people. Abraham did when the Lord told Abraham that He was going to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah. Moses was another who stood in the gap after the people had worshipped the golden calf. Esther stood in the gap when she risked her life by going to the king unsummoned to plead for the people. And of course, ultimately, Jesus is for all of us.
But not here in this passage. No one is found to stand in the gap on behalf of the people. That’s how bad things have become. It didn’t happen immediately, this is something that has been brewing for decades and a slow slippage has led to this point where there is no one to stand in the gap (remember that this a rebellious house).
That challenges us as disciples of Jesus. Are you ready to stand in the gap for others so that they may come to know Jesus? Are you willing to step outside our comfort zone and take the initiative so that others will come to know Jesus? Are you willing to invest the time in a relationship so that others grow as disciples (that’s also a good question for us, as we need to grow as disciples as well!)?
Are you willing to make the effort, spend the resources, give generously, and take the time, even if the harvest to come is something we never see or take part in?
As disciples of Jesus, we have a job—to go out; we are sent; we need to take the initiative and stand in the gap. It’s not up to us to determine how people will respond; that’s something between each person and the Lord. We must simply go and stand in the gap.
Where do you stand? Perhaps just as importantly, we need to ask, “How?” How do we stand in the gap in our families, with our friends, at work, in our schools, in our communities, even in our church?
That’s a huge question, and the answers really depend on our context, but let me offer a couple of simple things you can do to stand in the gap right where God has placed you.
- Prayer and worship: constantly be in prayer, seeking the Lord and worship Him in all that you are doing.
- Pray for the people who are on your heart and mind; pray constantly, specifically, and spontaneously for them and their relationship with the Lord.
- Be in relationships with others who will partner up with you in faith and pray for your “gap.”
- Make the most of the relationships you have by sharing Jesus through the things that you do, but most intentionally, through the things that you say.
- Be generous—after all, God has lavished His generosity upon you.
God bless you, and know that I’m praying for you today.
Scott