Inspired to Stand in the Gap

The name Ezekiel means "God will strengthen."

How befitting that god would use a prophet with such a name to point out the inability of the people to "stand in the gap" and address the corruption and atrocities of their times (Eze…https://t.co/92wWEXjy1F https://t.co/JXME0l0BQY

— Bruce Jackson (@LIFEPATH01) February 27, 2023

29The people of the land have practiced extortion and committed robbery. They have oppressed the poor and needy and have exploited the foreign resident without justice. 30I searched for a man among them to repair the wall and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, so that I should not destroy it. But I found no one. 31So I have poured out My indignation upon them and consumed them with the fire of My fury. I have brought their ways down upon their own heads, declares the Lord GOD.” Ezekiel 22:29-31 (Berean Standard Bible)

Someone Sees and Knows What’s Wrong

We learn in Ezekiel chapter 1 in verse 1 that the prophet was “among the exiles.” Other versions of the Bible will say “among the captives.” In other words, he was living with the very people who were living in exile during that time period. The stuff that was going on among them was going on right under his own nose and before his own eyes.

God points out that the situation within the land was truly out of hand. He mentions exploitation of the poor and the needy along with corruption and extortion. He also says that foreigners receive ill treatment without justice.

Then God profoundly pontificates an even bigger problem plaguing the land.

God sought for “someone to stand in the gap” (v. 30, NLT). Sadly, He surmises that He found no one. God was unable to find anyone who was willing to rebuild the walls and stand in the gap for the sake of the land before God Himself.

Nobody could be found to step up and stand in the gap.

Taking a Stand Takes Initiative

“Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.”

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Photo by Gotta Be Worth It on Pexels.com

Today’s troubles are similar to those of the days of Ezekiel. We just don’t see them as so. And we don’t do much more than talk about them or even tweet about them.

We don’t do well when it comes to standing in the gap today.

To take a stand and stand in the gap “for the sake of the land,” it takes initiative. Someone has to get things started. Someone has to make the first move.

Why not you?

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I plan on posting a follow-up to this message, but I wanted to at least put it out there to get the conversation started and get some ideas flowing among God’s people