Standing in the Gap

We are called to repentance and to acknowledge our own part in this nation’s slide into godlessness in order that we may “Stand in the Gap” between the “dead and the living”. 

   

I have, like many of us, been pondering and reflecting on the words of prophesy and the call  of the Holy Spirit for the people of God to “stand in the gap” in these days and I must confess that I have been not a little confused and perturbed by what it means.

However, the Lord, in His mercy has led me to Numbers 16:46 - 48

And Moses said to Aaron, “Take your censer, and put fire on it from off the altar and lay incense on it and carry it quickly to the congregation and make atonement for them, for wrath has gone out from the LORD; the plague has begun.” 47 So Aaron took it as Moses said and ran into the midst of the assembly. And behold, the plague had already begun among the people. And he put on the incense and made atonement for the people. 48 And he stood between the dead and the living, and the plague was stopped. 

These verses represent the climax of a story of arrogance, disobedience, and disrespect of God and His Holiness. It starts with Korah, a Levite and 250 of Israel’s leaders challenging Moses and Aaron suggesting that, as God was among them (the Levites) they were holy and Moses and Aaron had no right to “exalt themselves” above the congregation, despite the fact that they had been appointed and anointed by God to the task of ministering to the people.

So, a “competition” was arranged; Korah and his 250 against Aaron, to present incense before God. The outcome, of course, was a foregone conclusion! Aaron, as the chief priest, being the only one authorised by God to present incense before Him. As a result, Korah and his family were swallowed alive when the earth opened up beneath them and the 250 censer carriers were destroyed by fire from God.

You would think that the Israelites would have learned their lesson, but not a bit of it. The next day they “grumbled” against Moses and Aaron accusing them of “killing the people of God” despite the fact that they had witnessed God’s personal intervention and punishment of those who stood against Him. They also missed the point: that God, tempering His justice with mercy only punished those directly involved rather than their supporters. He was giving them a warning.

But the people chose to ignore the warning and God sent a plague amongst them. Moses and Aaron fell face down before the Lord and Moses instructed Aaron to take fire from the altar put incense on it and go in amongst the people and atone for them. Aaron obeyed and the plague ended, but not before, we are told, that 14,700 died in addition to those killed with Korah.

So, what can we learn from this episode? We too, as the Lord’s people, are surrounded by a world which displays arrogance, disobedience and disrespect and refusal to recognise the holiness of God. Sometimes, sadly, within the church.

We have received clear prophesies that God’s judgement is coming, and we see a warning of what’s to come in the current crisis. We, being anointed by the Holy Spirit and washed in the blood of Jesus are called to “take the fire” in amongst the people to make atonement for them and call them to repentance.

This will not make us popular. We will be ignored, ridiculed, and vilified and we too will have our calling, to bring the truth to people who would much rather stay in the dark, questioned.

The Lord is using this time to prepare us for this task just as Aaron and his sons were called to purify themselves before ministering before the Lord. We are called to repentance and to acknowledge our own part in this nation’s slide into godlessness in order that we may “Stand in the Gap” between the “dead and the living”.

As Lance Lambert says at the end of his prophetic word:

“It is time for you who love Me, who are faithful to Me, to take action! Stand before Me and plead The Finished Work of My Son. At least cry out to Me, that there will be those who turn from darkness, from sin, and be saved. For whosoever shall call upon My Name in the midst of these judgements, I will save!  It will cost you everything to stand in the gap, but you will enter into My heart, and know deep fellowship with Me. Such travail conceived in your heart by My Spirit will cost you deeply, but it will end in My Throne and Glory.”

Even so, come Lord Jesus.

Author: Alan Cameron

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