November 10

Ezekiel 21:1-22:31; Hebrews 10:1-17; Psalm 108:1-13; Proverbs 27:12

“That’s mean!” declared one of our little boys in a roar of indignation as his beloved stuffed animal was temporarily taken away as punishment for wrongdoing. “Whose choice was it?” my husband and I asked, so wanting our little one to understand. After a moment, he murmurs, “Mine,” voice meeker, eyes downcast, realizing his own actions led to the undesired consequence. It’s because we love him that we punish him. We want for him to love what is right and good and flee from that which is not.
 
People often wonder why a loving God would allow or enable such terrible retributions. Yet, this passage in Ezekiel explains who chose these punishments. The charges God brought against Israel were plentiful and deplorable, and by these, she “brings on herself doom” (22:3). The people of Israel sinned in many ways (and had been lovingly warned by God about these since Exodus!), not the least of which is “shedding blood”, a charge mentioned at least 7 times (22:3,4,6,9,12,13,27). Even the “good” have gone bad. Which is why God says that He looked for someone to “stand…in the gap” (22:30)—but there was no one. Punishment was inevitable, and it was Israel’s choice.

But God knew, from the beginning of time, that there was a better way. He planned for it. He sent one who could stand in the gap for all. One who said, “Here I am. I have come to do your will” (Hebrews 10:9). After trusting in Christ we are then called to follow in his model and stand in the gap for others. Our world is dying; like the Israelites, people are choosing death over life at every turn. Do we love God enough to willingly, boldly stand in the gap for him?

Dearest Lord God, thank you that Christ’s sacrifice was once and for all and that you remember our sins no more. Help me to lovingly stand in the gap. Amen.
 
Question: Do I love God more than myself and my ease? Am I willing to stand in the gap for him?