05.19.2019 – “Again the word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, say to the land, ‘You are a land that has not been cleansed or rained on in the day of wrath.’ There is a conspiracy of her princes within her like a roaring lion tearing its prey; they devour people, take treasures and precious things and make many widows within her. Her priests do violence to my law and profane my holy things; they do not distinguish between the holy and the common; they teach that there is no difference between the unclean and the clean; and they shut their eyes to the keeping of my Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them. Her officials within her are like wolves tearing their prey; they shed blood and kill people to make unjust gain. Her prophets whitewash these deeds for them by false visions and lying divinations. They say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says’—when the Lord has not spoken. The people of the land practice extortion and commit robbery; they oppress the poor and needy and mistreat the foreigner, denying them justice.

“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. So I will pour out my wrath on them and consume them with my fiery anger, bringing down on their own heads all they have done, declares the Sovereign Lord.”’ Ezekiel 22:23-31

In a land of corruption and injustice, God was looking for a man to stand in the gap. How might Ezekiel 22:30 read if it were written about the circumstances in your life? “(God) looked for a man among them who would” … take an unpopular public stand on a hot-button political issue… stand up for a guy at work who takes a lot of abuse… have integrity in financial dealings… even teach the junior high Sunday school class. Add your own appropriate details to make the statement fit your life situation. Then try to come up with some legitimate reasons why you shouldn’t step forward to accept God’s challenge. Stand in the gap and stand for what’s right.