Stand in the breach

Do you know the expression: Stand in the breach? According to a dictionary, it means “to give support in a critical situation, to lend assistance.”The idiom has its origins in chivalry. If one wanted to conquer a castle, a hole had to be broken into the fortress wall, so that the attacker could get into the castle. It was difficult for the defendants to close the breach quickly, so one of the knights stepped into the breach, which was still narrow, and closed it like a cork.

The Psalms also speak of “stepping into the breach”:

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. Psalm 106:23

In the book of Isaiah there is a verse that speaks of a similar situation, but there was no person to step into the breach.

He sees that there’s no one to help. He’s astounded that there’s no one to intercede. So with his own power he wins a victory. His righteousness supports him.
Isaiah 59:16

From this verse I sense the disappointment of God that no one prayed for the situation. God likes to do good, but he doesn’t want to do it without the participation of the believers!

What happens when we Christians doubt and think: does my prayer make a difference? What happens when no one steps into the breach in a critical situation? Then events take their course… World history would look different if people had not prayed in crises and wars!

An example that always fascinates me:
When Nazis and Allies were fighting each other in Italy in WW2, a faithful intercessory group led by Rees Howell met regularly in England and prayed. On this day, one of the members shared with the others the strong impression that they needed to pray for the Allied troops in Salerno, Italy. After some time of intense prayer, the mood changed and they began to praise God. They realized there had been a breakthrough, even if they didn’t know what happened. It was 11 o’clock in the evening.
At the same time, the Allies were in great danger in Salerno. They knew that troups were on the way, but realized that they could not hold off the Nazis until then. Suddenly, at 11 o’clock in the evening, silence replaced the thundering noise of war. The hail of bullets stopped. All night it remained quiet and in the morning the supplies arrived with many troops and they were able to save the city of Salerno.

This group of intercessors stood in the breach for the Allies before God and God answered their prayers!

I am convinced that God also wants us to be active in the Ukraine war. We Christians should stand together in this situation, step into the breach for peace in the Ukraine and pray!
The war in the Ukraine is shocking! It is not acceptable that so much suffering, pain and injuries happen again because of war; so many deaths, so much hatred! Let us take responsibility and come before God in prayer for peace.

Let us pray that God will protectively hold his hand over the Ukrainian and Russian people and that there will be a quick end to this war! Let us pray that the decision-makers and advisors will repent and seek peace. Let us pray for wisdom and discernment for all who play a role in this conflict! Let us pray for peace soon! Let us pray that God will do great things and that people will acknowledge God!

Pray always. Pray in the Spirit. Pray about everything in every way you know how! And keeping all this in mind, pray on behalf of God’s people. Keep on praying feverishly, and be on the lookout until evil has been stayed.
Ephesians 6:18 (The Voice)

Let’s pray!