“THE GAP”
(Ezekiel 22:1 – 23:49)
And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none. – Ezekiel 22:30
“The thing is to understand myself, to see what God really wants me to do; the thing is to find a truth which is true for me, to find the idea for which I can live and die.” – Soren Kierkegaard
Yesterday, we examined the prevalence of outright sin. Today, we turn our attention to the more subtle, yet equally problematic issue of omitted service.
Ezekiel 22 vividly portrays Jerusalem as a city steeped in sin, corruption, and injustice, where leaders, priests, and prophets neglected their duties and led the people astray. Chapter 23 uses a sexually explicit allegory to depict Israel’s spiritual unfaithfulness. In this spiritual wasteland, God declared, “And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none” (Ezekiel 22:30). God was earnestly seeking an intercessor to stem the tide of wickedness.
Imagine God’s yearning to extend mercy, yet finding no one willing to step into the spiritual vacuum for a people hurtling towards destruction. He wasn’t seeking perfection, but simply someone—anyone—to take a stand, mend what was broken, and bravely bridge the gap between a lost people and their God. Yet, no one responded, “Here am I. Send me!” (Isaiah 6:8).
Much like Ezekiel’s Jerusalem, our spiritual landscape today is often marked by brokenness, persistent injustices, and widespread spiritual lostness. God continues to seek those willing to “stand in the gap.” This calling transcends mere prayer, though prayer remains fundamental. It necessitates actively identifying the ruptures within our families, communities, and the broader world, and then courageously, compassionately, and committedly stepping into those voids. A contemporary term for this is “incarnational ministry,” which means being an “embodied presence” within a particular community or culture, mirroring Jesus’s own act of living among us.
Are there walls crumbling around you—in relationships, moral principles, or spiritual vitality? Will you be the one God discovers, willing to rebuild them? Are there “breaches” where pain, injustice, or spiritual darkness have taken root? Will you stand there, interceding, serving, and working for restoration? Let Ezekiel 22:30 serve as both a challenge and an invitation. God is still looking. Will He find you?
Application
Identify a “gap” in your life (e.g., strained relationship, community need, faltered spiritual discipline). How can you actively address it? This might involve difficult conversations, volunteering, or dedicated prayer and study. What concrete steps can you take this week to “build up the wall” or “stand in the breach” where God seeks intercession?
Reflection
Ezekiel 22:30 prompts us to consider God’s desire for our involvement in His restorative work. What prevents us from participating—is it fear, busyness, or feelings of inadequacy that lead to “omitted service”? How can we cultivate a heart that readily responds, “Here am I. Send me!” Both the biblical text and Kierkegaard’s quote emphasize the personal discovery of purpose through a divine calling. “Omitted service” in the “Reflection” can be understood as failing to “understand myself” and “see what God really wants me to do.” Ultimately, both challenge us to move beyond mere intellectual understanding to a committed response to God’s truth.
Closing Prayer…
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your mercy and persistent search for intercessors. Forgive our neglect of duty and failure to respond. Open our eyes to the crumbling walls and breaches in our families, communities, and world. Strengthen us to courageously, compassionately, and committedly step into these voids. Empower us by Your Spirit to mirror Jesus’s love and service. May we be willing to rebuild, stand, and work for Your kingdom’s restoration. Amen.
About our Author
Chris Rainey is a learning technologies manager, bi-vocational Christian minister, writer/poet, corporate trainer, and curriculum developer. Chris is an ordained minister with the Assemblies of God and is a graduate of the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary with an M.Div in Christian Education and a BA in Bible from Evangel University. He is originally from Southern Illinois, but has now lived in Northern New Jersey for over 30 years. He enjoys reading, hiking, biking, swimming, watching Survivor, and the New York Mets. He resides with Marcia, his wife of over 40 years, and has three daughters and a grandson.
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