Standing in the Gap

“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” (Ezekiel 22:30).

God’s judgment against His people Israel did not come flippantly nor hastily. In fact, He sent prophet after prophet warning the people to turn away from their sin. He gave repeated opportunities for the people to ditch their idolatry and return to Him with all their heart. He pleaded with His beloved to recognize His own faithfulness and goodness and mercy toward them so that they would desire Him more than other lovers.

But their stubborn, selfish, sinful wills prevailed. And if you’re looking for a catalogue of their misdeeds, the prophet Ezekiel outlines such sins as bloodshed and violence, idolatry, sexual immorality, bribery and extortion, oppression of the poor and needy, failure to keep and teach the holiness of the Lord, and forgetting God.

So the Lord eventually poured out His holy, just, and righteous wrath upon them. God raised up king Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon to invade and destroy Jerusalem. Many were killed by the sword and many were taken into exile.

As the book of Ezekiel details, God was vindicating the holiness of His great name among His own people and among the nations. The repeated theme is this word from the Lord: “And you shall know that I am the Lord.”

As I read and think about these things, the verse I led with in this article strikes me. What if God had found just one man who would stand in the gap before Him? Was there no one among the princes or the prophets? Was there no movement of righteous men who would lead the people back to God? Were there no faithful and courageous followers truly devoted to the Lord who would be found on their knees pleading night and day for the land’s repentance and sincere return to the ways of God?

Do we deserve any more time to repent than Israel? He is patient with us, yes, and does not wish that any should perish, but that all should repent (2 Peter 3:9). But the Day of His judgment will eventually come. Isn’t God giving us a window of opportunity right now to recognize our need to turn away from sinful things and turn back to the living God?

Is there anyone to be found today standing in the gap before the Lord so that our land may not be destroyed?

Oh, that such prayers might prevail and we might long for the holiness of God! Oh, that the church might humble ourselves before the Lord and seek His glory! Oh, that we might come running to the merciful arms of our loving Father and find forgiveness and grace abounding through Christ Jesus our Lord!

When God looks down will He find us standing in the gap?