Discover How One Person Can Make a Difference
In the book of Ezekiel, God said he looked for one person who could make a difference. One person who could build up the wall and stand in the gap for his people. But God could find no one.
What if he had found someone? Instead of destruction, the outcome would have been different.
Look at these four biblical characters who stood in the gap and made a difference.
Abraham
When God revealed to Abraham his plan to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, Abraham interceded, pleading for God to not destroy the cities and therefore protect the few righteous people who lived there.
Though God did not relent and spare the cities, he did spare three of its residents: Lot and his two daughters. Abraham stood in the gap (Genesis 18:16-32).
Moses
Twice Moses stood in the gap for God’s people. Two times the Israelites so exasperated God that he wanted to wipe them out and start over, making Moses’s descendants into a great nation.
Most leaders would’ve accepted this as God’s will, but not Moses.
He pleaded for God to relent and not destroy the people. Moses stood in the gap and God relented (Exodus 32:10-14 and Numbers 14:12-20).
David
When the Philistines and their champion fighter Goliath confronted the Israelite army, everyone trembled at his size and bravado.
No one dared to fight him. But David did. David stood in the gap, and God granted him victory over Goliath and the Philistine army (1 Samuel 17:32-52).
Daniel
Daniel took responsibility for the sins of his people. He confessed the nation’s sins to God and asked for deliverance. Daniel stood in the gap (Daniel 9:4-23).
Can You Stand in the Gap?
What can you do to stand in the gap and make a difference?
[Read through the Bible with us this year. Today’s reading is Ezekiel 21-22, and today’s post is on Ezekiel 22:30.]
Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.
Read more in his books, blog, and weekly email updates.
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5 replies on “Build Up a Wall and Stand in the Gap”
Such an inspiring blog post. Dare to be a Daniel…dare to stand alone or dare to be a David or a Moses.
But what about Lot’s wife? She looked back at the destruction of Sodom …even though God commanded her not to. God turned her into a pillar of salt.
And as Jesus says in Mark 9:49-50 “For everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, with what will you season it? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”
Lot’s wife dared to look back and see Sodom and Gomorrah destroyed by sulfur and fire…and God preserved and redeemed her by turning her into a pillar of salt.
Jesus has this to say about salt “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its savor, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.” Matthew 5:13
What’s up with this? We are called to be salt and light to enlighten and season one another with our faith in Jesus Christ our Saviour and our Redeemer.
Can Lot’s wife who was turned into a pillar of salt come back to life, be restored to life?
Yes, Linda. There is no looking back. Only looking forward to what God calls us to!
Well there is no looking back once we start to follow Jesus because Jesus the Holy Spirit was the pillar of salt that was tossed out and trampled upon in favour of Jesus Barabbas (son of the Father) and was thereby crucified with Christ the Everlasting Father.
Once Christians have become like Jesus..pillars of salt and beacons of light It is impossible to restore again those who have fallen away who are crucifying their Mother and Mather and the Son of God the Father all over again.
The author of Hebrews writes: “For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit,..and then have fallen away—to be restored again to repentance, because they themselves are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting Him to open shame” (Hebrews 6:4-6).
The author of Hebrew 10:29 goes on to say this. “How much more severely do you think one deserves to be punished who has trampled on the Son of God, profaned the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and insulted the Spirit of grace?”
There’s a lot we can learn from the Bible when it mentions “salt.”
GOOD MESSAGE