ONE STOOD IN THE GAP
By Earlene Davis
“And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.” Ezekiel 22:30
God sought for a man, but found NONE that should make up the hedge, like a fortifying wall and stand in the gap before Him, interceding for man’s need.
When Adam and Eve revolted against the clear command of God unto them, sin became a reality in the human race and death was ever present. Man desperately needed redemption. For this vast immense task God the Father sought a man. Thank God, He found Him in Christ Jesus.
God in His great love and mercy gave His only begotten Son to come and die for mankind; that whosoever believed in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life (Jn. 3:16). Jesus, the sacrificial Lamb of God willingly became man, born of a woman and of the Holy Ghost (Gal. 4:4 & Mt. 1:20). “Then said He, Lo, I come to do they will, O God. He taketh away the first, that He may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” (Heb. 10:9-10).
Jesus cried out upon the cross, “It is finished and He bowed His head, and gave up the ghost” (Jn. 19:30). His work of redemption was finished. He made up the hedge, standing in the gap undertaking for man’s need and fulfilling the will of the Father. Thus bringing God and man together – Fellowship restored. Ps. 69:4, “I restored that which I took not away.” Praise God for His grace!
“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God…” I Jn. 3:1-2. Praise God, praise God!
Now that the work of redemption is finished, God is still seeking for men to carry out His will today. God is using believers that yield to the Christ life within them to His glory. We are called upon to stand in the gap interceding for others what ever the need may be (salvation, healing, restored fellowship, etc.). I Tim. 2:1-4, we are to pray for all men and those in authority, for God would have all men to be saved and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. Eph. 6:18, “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints…”.
We can intercede and lift up ones to the throne of God, taking part in our priestly ministry. For we know we have a faithful High Priest an intercessor, Jesus Christ which sitteth on the right hand of God and ever liveth to make intercession for His own (Heb. 7:24-25; 8:1). He is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God BY HIM. He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think (Eph. 3:20).
We can learn from different ones that stood in the gap and interceded – like Abraham in Gen. 18 when the Lord revealed to him that He would destroy Sodom because of their grievous sins. When the angels turned their face toward Sodom, Abraham stood yet before the Lord, interceding, for his nephew, Lot, who lived in that city.
In New Testament language, Lot, a believer was dwelling in the world among evil unbelievers. Abraham started asking the Lord that if 50 righteous were in the city, would God spare the place for the 50 righteous therein. He said, shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? The Lord answered that He would spare the city if He found 50 righteous therein. Abraham asked, if it lacked 5 of the fifty and the Lord gave the same answer. Abraham proceeded and ask if 40 and then he asked if 30 and finally asked if 10 be there and the Lord said he would spare it if there be 10. Abraham left off asking, for surely there were 10. Well we know the story, there were not even 10 righteous in Sodom and the Lord destroyed it.
Did the Judge of all the earth do right? Oh yes. Gen. 19:15-16, “And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city. And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.” Verse 29, “And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in the which Lot dwelt.”
We also read in Psalm 106 of Israel’s rebellion again and again toward God after he had so wonderfully delivered them. Verses 21-23, “They forgot God their saviour, which had done great things in Egypt; Wondrous works in the land of Ham, and terrible things by the Red sea. Therefore he said that he would destroy them, had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach, to turn away his wrath, lest he should destroy them.” In God’s mercy He did not destroy them, but they did suffer judgment.
In Isa. 59 we read of mankind’s sins and their calamities. Verses 2-4, “your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear…None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity.” Verses 15-16, “…and the LORD saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment…he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him.” There was no intercessor to stand in the gap, but God mercifully brought salvation by His Divine Arm, Christ, providing a robe of righteousness for man through our only savior.
John 3:14-15, “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.” We know this speaks of Christ lifted up on the cross. But may we lift up our Lord and stand in the gap. Selah!
Earlene Davis
