Standing in the Gap

 

Have you ever had to use a band-aid on a wound?  Of course, you have.  I mean who hasn’t skinned a knee or an elbow?  When we cover a wound with a bandage, we must be careful to smooth it out well so there are no wrinkles in it.  We can’t leave an opening for any dirt or grime to get in to infect the wound.  

 In ancient times walls were build around cities to fortify them.  They kept the enemy out.  If there were gaps in the wall, the city was vulnerable to danger.  Someone would most likely be put on watch – to stand in the gap – until the wall could be repaired so no enemies could get inside the city. 

There are a couple of interesting passages in the book of Ezekiel.  “O Israel, your prophets are like foxes in the deserts. ⁵ 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.” (Ezekiel 13:4-5). 

God condemns other prophets saying they are like foxes.  They did not go build a wall for the house of Israel.  These prophets did not help prepare their people spiritually.  They were not true to God, so they could not protect the people from spiritual weakness – so they could “stand in battle on the day of the Lord.”  The ‘prophets’ were corrupt.

The next passage comes from Chapter 22:29-30 – “The people of the land have used oppressions, committed robbery, and mistreated the poor and needy; and they wrongfully oppress the stranger. ³⁰ 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.”

God (through Ezekiel) now goes over all the sins the people have committed.  He looked for someone who would “stand in the gap” to keep the land from being destroyed.  How sad it was that God found no one. 

It reminds me of the conversation Abraham had with God when he pleaded with Him on behalf of Sodom and Gomorrah.  Do you remember?  Abraham first asked if God would destroy the city if there were 50 righteous people in the city.  Then Abraham went to down to 40, then 30 and eventually down to 10. 

God agreed if 10 righteous people could be found, He would save Sodom.  Not enough people stood in the gap in Sodom either.  The angels only led four people out of the city, and we know Lot’s wife looked back. 

What about us?  Are we ready to stand in the gap when someone needs us?  When God needs us?  Do we stand up for what is right in the workplace or at school? 

Are we strong enough to teach our children the difference between right and wrong even when we know some of their friends may make fun of them for being the good kid?  Do they know they can turn to us whenever they face hardships?   When we teach our children and others about God, we are preparing them to ‘stand in the battle on the day of the Lord.’ 

Gaps are dangerous.  Dirt gets in band-aids.  Enemies get in cities that aren’t fortified.    Sometimes nations fall when not enough Christians stand up for what’s right.  Sin creeps into our lives when we aren’t protected.

Let’s stand in the gaps – for ourselves, our families and our neighbors.  God needs us. 

Christ above all things – Robin