So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one. (Ezekiel 22 :30).
The context of the scripture text above was the sinful condition of Israel. The Israelites had become so rebellious to God that He described them as dross to Himself. They were so steeped in evil that there was not even one person among them who cared enough about the continuous spiritual and moral degradation to seek God for His intervention. It was rather God Himself who sought for a man among them. Today, an identical situation subsists in many, if not most parts of society. Since the fall of man, human society, generally, has taken a nose dive. The following words of the Bible capture it aptly : “Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” (Gen 6:5). However, just as was the case in Noah’s and Ezekiel’s day, God still seeks for a man or woman who will stand in the gap before Him on behalf of mankind.
The reason why God has made an eager search of a man or woman, in each successive generation of mankind, is because He will not intervene in human history without humanity’s invitation or permission. It is this way because God Himself ordered it so. Recall that before mankind was created, the Godhead—comprising the Father, the Son and the HolySpirit—had a meeting, the essence of which is recorded in Genesis as such : “Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion [ let them rule NIV ] over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”” (Gen 1:26). Note that, though God is a person, He is not a human being. Man, however, is both a person and a human being. This implies that the moment God said, “let them have dominion” or “let them rule” (NIV), He, by His own choice and word, vested the authority to have dominion or rule over the earth only in human beings—persons who are essentially spirits and have souls and live in a body. God Himself set these parameters, beyond which, it is illegal to operate on earth. That is the enviable height to which God has exalted mankind. It was the awe of it all, as he pondered, that led the Psalmist to exclaim : “What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him? For You have made him a little lower than the angels, And You have crowned him with glory and honor. You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet,…” (Ps 8:4-6). Therefore, God must find a man or woman to use, if His will is to be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Why did God not find a man among them, in spite of the plethora of people in that society? It was because it was not just anyone that God could use to achieve His purpose. God required a man, yes, but a yielded one. Only a life surrendered to God is truly useful in His for hands His purpose. It all boils down to being willing and obedient to Him. Jesus expressed it thus : “For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.” (Jn 6:38). Until human will has been submitted to the Divine will, humanity does not constitute much of a useful vessel to God.
How do we position ourselves so as to be profitable to God? The answer is in the following Scriptural text: “Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always.” (Ps 105 :4 NIV). If there had been a man among them who looked to the LORD in Ezekiel’s day, God would have found someone to intercede for the land and its people. The New Testament equivalent of the Scriptural verse above is Hebrews chapter 12:2, which says, “looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne.”.
However, anyone who wants to be available for God’s use, needs to be sure that he or she belongs to God. Are you born again? Before you can validly look up to Jesus for mercy on behalf of people around you, He must be living in your heart. Are you born again? Have you consciously and sincerely invited Jesus into your heart? Until you have done this, you are not in a position to take any further acceptable step towards standing “…in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it…” (Ezekiel 22:30). In case you are not born again but want to be, then simply ask Jesus to come into your heart and be your Lord and saviour. Note that you can say this prayer where you are, right now. Shalom.
