Kristen Lunceford
In Ezekiel 22 we see that the Lord is holding Judah to account. It’s been hundreds of years of rejection, purposeful sin, and defiling of the tabernacle and Law. Judah has shown no regard for their creator, the One who has rescued and delivered them time and time again. God has waited patiently. He’s begged. He’s pleaded. He’s warned. Judah didn’t care. And now, it’s too late. There’s no going back. Judah’s time of destruction has come.
In verse 30 of Ezekiel 22 the Lord tells Judah, “I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one.”
Time and time again, we see the resistant nature of God. Resistance to discipline. Resistance to punish. It’s as if He is looking for a reason not to. However, when he looks at the sins of Judah, there is simply no way around it. Their sin has become too great. The Lord looked for someone who could “stand in the gap” and prevent this destruction, but there was no one.
Until Jesus.
Because God is always in search of a way to rescue his people. this was not the end of Judah’s story. It was not the end of our story. Yes, there was no once to fill the gap, so what does God do? He fills it. He intercedes. He stands in way of his own judgement, taking upon himself the judgement meant for us. He stood in the gap.
While this should inspire a spirit of praise within us, it should also present a challenge to us. In a time when judgement for Judah was imminent, there was no one to save. No one to deliver. Things are no different now. Sin is rampant, rebellion is constant, and rejection of Truth is all around us. Judgement will come. But who will emulate the life of Christ and stand in the gap for those who are lost? Who will build up a wall of protection, and seek deliverance for a people condemned by sin? Christ did, will we? Will we be willing to speak truth and life to those who surround us, or will we stay silent?
Deliverance cannot be experienced if we do not point others to the One who delivers. We must stand in the gap, because He once stood in the gap for us.
Kristen
