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In The Gap

By Kay Franklin

It’s so amazing that we are looking for God and at the very same time He is looking for us.  A few weeks ago, I shared with you from John 4:2, 24:  But the time is coming, indeed it is here now when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth.  The Father is looking for those who will worship Him that way.  For God is Spirit, so those who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth.

Today, God is still seeking, He is still looking!

Listen to Ezekiel 22:30-“I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me before the land that I should not destroy it but I found none.”  God seeks for a man to make up the hedge and stand in the gap…

I like to look up definitions to words and so I would like to share with you the definitions for a few of the words that I looked up:  The sought means to seek, require, request, face to face.  Hedge means fence, wall, fortified wall.  Stand means to remain, stable, endure, take a stand.  Gap means breach, bursting forth, outburst, and broken wall.

Here are some examples of people who have stood in the gap:  Abraham was invited by God to stand in the gap for Sodom and Gomorrah.  Abraham had a visitation and before the visitation was over, made clear to Abraham was He was considering with regard to Sodom important and Gomorrah.   

Genesis 19:10 shows us that because of Moses standing in the gap, that the city of Sodom and Gomorrah was not saved, but Abraham’s family who resided there was saved.  This is why standing in the gap is so Moses models standing in the gap.

 In Exodus 33:11, it is said of Moses that the Lord spoke with him face-to-face.  Moses spoke to God on behalf of Israel. 

Genesis 32:30 reveals to us that Jacob had a face-to-face encounter with God and he was preserved. 

Be encouraged to stand in the gap for yourselves or for your nation! 

We can stand in the gap in prayer but stand in the gap to repent.  Nehemiah stood in the gap and repented on behalf of his nation for things that he did not do but in order for the nation to advance, repentance was required.  As a result, the dilapidated wall of Jerusalem was rebuilt in less than 60 days.

2 Chronicles 20:21 shows us that those who sang went out before Judah’s army singing, praising, giving thanks and worshiping God.  They were in the gap for Judah!  Because of their bold moved to sing, praise, give thanks and praise in the gap, those that came up against Judah were ambushed.

So far, we have seen that we can stand in the gap with prayer, repentance, praise and thanksgiving.  Other ways that we can be in the gap is with fasting.  In Esther 4:16, it is recorded that Esther said to observe a fast for me-do not eat or drink for three days night or day.”  This fast was requested by Esther because she was planning to approach the king without his summons which was against the law.  The Jewish people complied with her request and Esther’s life was spared.  The Jewish people fasted in the gap. 

So, many times we feel led to be in the gap for others.  Just know that all of these things can work as you are in the gap:  pray, repent, praise, give thanks, worship and fast!  God bless you!