This series of “Today’s Nugget� comes from one of our team members, Dr. Milton Jones, Sr. Pastor, Heritage Baptist Church, Manhattan, IL.

Ezek 22:30-31 – “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.  ³¹ 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.â€?  The picture painted in this passage is as gloomy as that found anywhere in the Bible.  Judgment is surely coming to the land of Israel.  An air of hopelessness pervades.  The reason for the hopelessness of situation is found in our text.  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.

God is looking for a man of Courage – that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap.  God was looking for a man who could plug the hole that sin had made in the defenses of the land.  The walls had been breached by a terrible apostasy.  Wickedness was threatening to pour through the gap like a floodtide. 

Who would stand in the place of the greatest battle? Who would make up the hedge of protection?  Who would take the direct assault of the enemy?  God is still looking for people with enough godly courage to stand when no else will.  Men like Eleazar, one of David’s mighty men.  2 Sam. 23:9,10  And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David, when they defied the Philistines that were there gathered together to battle, and the men of Israel were gone away: ¹⁰He arose, and smote the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clave unto the sword: and the LORD wrought a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to spoil.

Courage is not the absence of fear.  Courage is refusal to be controlled by your fear.   Great courage is needed because the gap is always the focus of the greatest attack.  The enemy is well aware of the weaknesses in the defense.

 

Nuggets Of Gold Ministries
Russell Stolp, Founder & Director

http://www.nuggetsofgold.org

Psalm 37:4 “Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.”

Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.