WHEN GOD FOUND NONE -- Monday:
"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." KJV (Ezek 22:30)
There are Divine laments in Scripture: portrayals of a disappointed and grieved God! Who can forget the staggering words, "And it repented the LORD that He had made man on the earth, and it grieved Him at his heart" (Gen 6:6). The Spirit reminds us of an entire "generation" of Israel with whom God was "grieved" (Heb 10). Some imagine God to be heartless because He is Sovereign and all-knowing. But this is a total misconception. God is affected by what He sees! That is why men are said to do things "WELL PLEASING to God" (Phil 4:18). It is why the Lord was DISPLEASED with the construction of the tower of Babel (Gen 11:5-8), the sinners of Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen 18:20-21), and the grumbling of the Israelites (Num 11:10). It is why David was "the SWEET psalmist of Israel," a "man after God's OWN HEART," and not simply a good musician (2 Sam 23:1; 1 Sam 13:14). It is why God was "PLEASED" with the prayer of Solomon (1 Kgs 3:10), and Enoch had this testimony, that "he PLEASED God" (Heb 11:5). God is influenced by what He sees, even though He sees and knows all!
Our text is a classic case in point. God had called Ezekiel to be a prophet – a unique prophet. He would minister to a "rebellious people" (Ezek 2:3) – even "most rebellious" (2:7). The prophet was given a message he was to ingest – like eating a book. He was to "fill his bowels" with the contents of the message, allowing it to permeate every part of his being (3:1-3). God made Ezekiel determined, so that he would refuse to be turned by the hard-heartedness of the people. God said, "Behold, I have made thy face strong against their faces, and thy forehead strong against their foreheads. As an adamant harder than flint have I made thy forehead: fear them not, neither be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house" (3:8-9). Whether the people listened to Ezekiel or not, he was to declare the message God had given to him. His would be an "out of season" minister (2 Tim 4:2).
The people to whom Ezekiel ministered are described as "a rebellious nation," 2:3 and "impudent children and stiffhearted." (2:4). Even their "looks" would tend to dismay, or beat down, those who spoke to them (2:9). If you are ever tempted to be discouraged with your ministry, think of the prophet Ezekiel!
Even when dealing with such a people, the Lord carefully sought a means to preserve them. He sought someone who could "make up the hedge and stand in the gap," or could "build up the wall and stand before Me in the gap on behalf of the land" (NIV). He was looking for someone who could plead like Abraham (Gen 18:24-32), and intercede like Moses (Ex 32:31-32). The power of this statement is reflected in the New Jerusalem Bible. God was looking for a man who could "build a barricade and oppose Me in the breach, to defend the country and prevent Me from destroying it." This was someone who, because of their righteousness, would move God to consider sparing the land. Previously, God had found such a man in Moses (Ex 32:10-13). Could he find such a person in the day of Ezekiel?
The text says, "but I found none." No one who was godly enough to move the Lord to be merciful! No one who was a barricade against the pouring out of Divine wrath! The result was grievous, "Therefore have I poured out mine indignation upon them; I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath" (v 31). And why was this so? Because no one could be found who could stand in the breach between God and the wicked Israelites! Their wickedness was that great!
God does not always react in this manner. In a stirring prophesy about the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, Isaiah spoke of similar circumstances, when no intercessor could be found. "He saw that there was no one, He was appalled that there was no one to intervene" (Isa 59:16, NIV). In this case, it was not just Israel, but the whole world! Because of His great desire for humanity, God did not consume them in His wrath. Instead He responded, "so His own arm worked salvation for Him, and His own righteousness sustained Him. He put on righteousness as His breastplate, and the helmet of salvation on His head; He put on the garments of vengeance and wrapped himself in zeal as in a cloak" (v 16b-17, NIV). This was a prophecy of the coming Savior, who would absorb the shock of Divine wrath Himself, treading out the winepress of the wrath of God "alone" (Isa 63:3-5). Jesus built up a wall, and stood in the gap, or breach, that had been caused by sin. God continues to honor Him by receiving every person who receives the Son.
God is still looking for righteous people who will stand in the gap – powerful intercessors who can stay His wrath from falling on sinners. He challenges the church, "I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, INTERCESSIONS, and giving of thanks, be made for all men" (1 Tim 2:1).
Perhaps there is some soul that can be spared because of you! By living close to the Lord, you might be the reason God will spare some soul who is presently condemned. It is written, "If anyone sees his brother commit a sin that does not lead to death, he should pray and God will give him life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death" (1 John 5:16).
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, I desire to be found faithful – one who stand in the gap for those you want to spare.