Standing In The Gap ... Karen Ruhl

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. Ezekiel 22:30 (NKJV)

Do you remember playing Red Rover when you were younger? Groups of kids would choose teams; everyone would line up—both teams facing each other. There must have been 25-30 feet separating the teams. The game would start with one team calling a player, “Red Rover, Red Rover, send Karen over.” The goal was to break through the challenger’s line. The penalty for not breaking through was to join the opposing team. Of course, they would call the smaller people over first because it was hard to break through the line. The game would go on until one team won everyone over. We all got a good workout and a lot of laughs.

Ezekiel 22:30 reminds me of Red Rover in that God was trying to find someone who might rebuild the wall of righteousness. The wall was in bad shape because there was no one who could lead the people back to God. The next verse is what we need to think about today:

“Therefore have I poured out mine indignation upon them; I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath: their own way have I recompensed upon their heads, saith the Lord GOD.” (Ezekiel 22:31 NKJV)

In the NLT version, it reads God will pour out His fury on the people, consuming them with fire.

Studying this verse, I learned that what we really need is a total spiritual reconstruction. Many are currently giving the appearance of loving God, but living in a way that is not His will. We, as Christians, need to take a good hard look at what we are seeing in our world. We need to stand in the gap.

I remember reading of a revival in Ireland. People started gathering and would pray specifically for a person—using their name. The entire group prayed and were so faithful to meet often. One by one, the people they prayed for started coming to church.

The 1859 Ulster revival was a Christian revival that spread to the rest of the United Kingdom. It has been reported that the revival produced 100,000 converts.

There are many revival stories, all very well documented. Started in churches, and in prayer groups. In these stories, it was the people who stood together—they stood in the gap. It is time for all of us to pray for a great revival today. To pray away this counterculture, to pray against sin, to stop covering up sin. We need to learn more, follow God’s will, and not be weak.

Are you ready to “stand in the gap?” Do you know someone who needs prayer? Keep in mind that the church is all of us. God calls all of us to pray and stand in the gap. The wall is broken, and evil is getting through. The good news is we know who wins! It is time we pray together, lift people by name in our prayer groups. It is time we make a difference in the world by following God’s will.

Let’s start a big Red Rover game and ask those who are lost to come over. We will stand in the gap and bring them back to where they belong.

Let’s pray: Heavenly Father, you are our Savior, and we need you. Lord, we declare that this is your Kingdom; we pray for all the lost souls. We pray that you help us stay in the Word and that Your Will be done in our lives. We pray for revival across the world. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Karen Ruhl