Standing in the Gap

I never really understood what "standing in the gap"meant until I got fascinated by the endless rows of hedges wrapped around pasture in the English countryside.

While strolling past a pasture in Lancashire, some curious item on a fence captured my (and of course, my camera's) attention. No, it's not cotton wool, or rather, yes, it's a form of wool... left behind by some sheep attempting to run away! Further along, I actually spotted a sheep sheltering at a bus-stop, looking dismally at the rain.

Personally, I learnt the importance of standing in the gap to protect one's prized assets, be they sheep or ships, country or community -- in this case, praying and standing on someone's behalf before God. Consider Abraham who negotiated with God for the lives of a few men, and Moses who put his own life on the line for nearly half a million people. Carrying someone's burden to God is the privilege that belongs to those who do know their God - His goodness and the power of His might.

There and then, I saw light in the bible verse Ezekiel 22:30 "And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land..." Hedges, when fully grown, are formidable structures, the thickets making robust walls, protecting those within, and warding off intruders. However, gaps between hedges are sheer temptation for the ravening wolf or the wayward sheep vying for greener pastures. In this context, God lamented that there was no one to fill in the gap to protect the land that was being compromised. If you want to know the outcome of the story, go to Ezekiel 22.

#ezekiel2230 #standinthegap #hedges #pasture #praying