May the mumbling commence!
Are you willing to stand in the gap? Are you willing to be the intercessor between the holy God and fatally flawed people? Will you or I stand up to fill the breach? Moses once did just that. So did the priest Phinehas. So did Ezra, a descendant of Phinehas. Read some passages from Psalm 106:
So he said he would destroy them –
had not Moses, his chosen one,
stood in the breach before him
to keep his wrath from destroying them. (Verse 23)
But Phinehas stood up and intervened,
and the plague was checked.
This was credited to him as righteousness
for endless generations to come. (Verses 30-31)
When the vast majority of people are straying, it takes guts and great faith to stand up and say different. It takes conviction and vision. But blessings would flow for Moses and Phinehas:
Blessed are they who maintain justice,
who constantly do what is right. (Psalm 106:3)
What were Moses and Phinehas up against? Psalm 106 tells us about some of the problems – forgetfulness and thanklessness (Verses 7, 9, 21), failure to wait on God (Verse 13), putting God to the test (Verse 14), worshipping idols (Verse 19), rebelling against God’s Holy Spirit (Verse 33), speaking rashly (Verse 33), and shedding innocent blood (Verse 38). These are issues that still plague God’s people.
How are you and I to stand up and fill the breach? Let’s take some clues from the life of Ezra. Read a verse from Ezra chapter seven: “For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the Lord, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel. (Verse 10)” If we are to stand in the breach, we need to know where God stands and where the people are so that we can faithfully fill the breach.
And there will be obstacles. There were obstacles for Ezra – temptations. Read some passages from Ezra chapter seven:
You and your brother Jews may then do whatever seems best with the rest of the silver and gold, in accordance with the will of your God. (Verse 18)
Much material wealth may come into our possession as it did for Ezra. What will we do with it – whatever seems best to us or will we stay in accordance to the will of God? Our success will depend upon our answer. I pray that we stay close to God…
Now I, King Artaxerxes, order all the treasurers of Trans-Euphrates to provide with diligence whatever Ezra the priest, a teacher of the Law of the God of heaven, may ask of you – up to a hundred talents of silver, a hundred cors of wheat, a hundred baths of wine, a hundred baths of olive oil, and salt without limit. (Verses 21-22)
Ever hear of a blank check? This is about as close as you can come to one! Much mirth can come from silver and wine and wheat and olive oil. Salt, too, is valuable. Ever hear the turn of phrase “worth your salt”? At one time servants were paid with salt. Again, let’s stay close to God…
And you, Ezra, in accordance with the wisdom of your God, which you possess, appoint magistrates and judges to administer justice to all the people of Trans-Euphrates – all who know the laws of your God. And you are to teach any who do not know them. Whoever does not obey the law of your God and the law of the king must surely be punished by death, banishment, confiscation of property, or imprisonment. (Verses 25-26)
Now, we speak of political power. Ezra has the power to appoint judges and magistrates. He could have the government in his hip pocket. Anyone who stands in Ezra’s way would suffer banishment, imprisonment or death. Again, let’s stay close to God.
Abide in the vine – that’s Jesus – and we will be fruitful branches. Faithfully represent Jesus, and we will stand in the gap – we will fill the breach. We will fill the breach not because of our greatness but because of the greatness of our Lord Jesus Christ. Unto him, we give all power and glory – all the money and influence. May it be so!
Enough mumbling for now…
Peace Out
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