In chapter 13 of the Book of Ezekiel, verses 1-3, we find that the Lord had a concern with the prophets of Israel. He states that some of them were prophesying out of their own hearts. He called them foolish, those who would follow their own spirit and yet had seen nothing.
This word “foolish” is translated from the Hebrew word “nabal,” indicating an act of stupidity of a wicked or vile person – one who is insensitive to what God desires. In verse 5, He states to these foolish men, “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.” God is saying here that what these men were doing was futile!
God goes on in the 22nd chapter of Ezekiel, verse 23-30, and shows that these prophets were committing a conspiracy which was devouring the people. In verse 26 He states, “Her priests have violated My law and profaned My holy things; they have not distinguished between the holy and unholy, nor have they made known the difference between the unclean and the clean; and they have hidden their eyes from My Sabbaths, so I am profaned among them.”
In verse 30 God says, “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.”
Down through the generations, God has sought such men and women, but has found only a few, compared to the multitudes, who have been willing to stand for His Way. Moses is an outstanding example of one who did stand firmly for God’s Truth without compromise. He taught the people through his word and by his example. Moses loved God’s Way and God’s people and prayed for them often.
What is the cost for one to stand in the gap for God and His Way? Peter, in speaking with Christ concerning this, stated in Matthew 19:27: “See, we have left all and followed you.” Brethren, you and I have been called to a Way that requires such a commitment, yet we do it willingly, without reservation.
Christ says to you, in verse 29 of Matthew 19, “And everyone who has left homes or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit everlasting life.”
We certainly have much to be thankful for; especially that God has called us at this time to stand in the gap for His Way! This age desperately needs those who serve God–just as Moses did in his day–to likewise be a light of the Way of God as well as to intervene with God so that even in this time of darkness, some should be saved. Let each of us put our whole heart and being into serving God and to accomplishing what God has so rarely found–faithful men and women who are “standing in the gap!”
