Called to His Service — Standing in the Gap By: Chaim Malespin

Called to His Service — Standing in the Gap

From Chaim Malespin

“And I sought for a man…”

Hebrew (Masoretic Text):

וָאֶבְקֹּשׁ מֵהֶם אִישׁ גֹּדֵר גָּדֵר וְעֹמֵד בַּפֶּרֶץ לְפָנַי בְּעַד הָאָרֶץ לְבִלְתִּי שַׁחֲתָהּ וְלֹא מָצָאתִי.

English (KJV):

“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.” — Ezekiel 22:30

Elohim is searching—not for perfection, not for fame—but for availability. One man. One woman. One heart that will stand in the gap on behalf of others. That gap may be spiritual, emotional, physical, or relational—but someone must stand.

You Are Not Overlooked

You might feel like your daily work is mundane. You’re tired. You don’t even have time for lunch some days. You’re searching for the bug in the code, repairing a car, raising your children, serving at tables, managing logistics, or helping behind the scenes.

But in the Kingdom of Elohim, there is no “small” task. The mom at home raising children in the fear of YHWH is installing the Kingdom into the next generation. She may be doing more than all the rest. Heaven sees.

Unless YHWH Builds the House

Psalm 127:1–2 (KJV):

“Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so He giveth His beloved sleep.”

Hebrew (Masoretic Text):

אִם־יְהוָה לֹא־יִבְנֶה בַיִת שָׁוְא עָמְלוּ בוֹנָיו בּוֹ;

אִם־יְהוָה לֹא־יִשְׁמָר־עִיר שָׁוְא שָׁקַד שׁוֹמֵר.

שָׁוְא לָכֶם מַשְׁכִּימֵי קוּם מְאַחֲרֵי שֶׁבֶת אֹכְלֵי לֶחֶם הָעֲצָבִים—

כֵּן יִתֵּן לִידִידוֹ שֵׁנָא.

Your labor matters—when Elohim is in it. Otherwise, we toil anxiously, driven by fear and performance. But YHWH gives rest to His beloved.

Luke 5 — Obedience Over Expertise

Luke 5:5 (KJV):

“And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at Thy word I will let down the net.”

Simon Peter was an expert fisherman. He had worked all night. He knew the sea, the patterns of fish, the reality of cold-blooded creatures that dive deep in the heat of day. Yeshua’s instruction defied logic.

But Peter obeyed. Not because it made sense—but because Yeshua said so. That is faith.

Miracle Follows Obedience

Luke 5:6–7 (KJV):

“And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake… they filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.”

Peter’s obedience led to overflow. The catch was so big, it broke the nets and filled both boats.

Peter’s Response

Luke 5:8 (KJV):

“When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Yeshua’s knees, saying, ” Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.”

Like Isaiah before him, Peter saw his unworthiness. But the Messiah did not reject him—He called him.

From Fisherman to Fisher of Men

Luke 5:10–11 (KJV):

“Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men… they forsook all, and followed Him.”

You might feel unqualified. You might say: “I’m not good with Hebrew.” “I don’t know enough.” “I’m too sinful.” But Yeshua sees more in you than you see in yourself. He calls you in spite of yourself.

The Harvest Is Plentiful

Matthew 9:37–38 / Luke 10:2 (KJV):

“The harvest truly is plentiful, but the labourers are few. Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest…”

The harvest isn’t the problem—the shortage of willing workers is.

Will you be the one to say, like Isaiah:

“Here am I. Send me.” — Isaiah 6:8

Isaiah’s Cleansing and Commission

Isaiah 6:5–7 (KJV):

“Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips… Then flew one of the seraphims… and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away…”

You are not disqualified by your past.

He cleanses. He calls. He sends.

John 21 — The Kindness of the Messiah

Peter, after denying Yeshua three times, returns to fishing. He feels like he failed. But Messiah returns to him.

John 21:1–6 — They fish all night again. Catch nothing.

Yeshua appears and repeats the miracle: “Cast the net on the right side.”

They catch 153 fish—but this time the net does not break.

Peter dives into the water when he hears “It is the Lord!”

Yeshua Feeds and Restores

John 21:9 — Yeshua already has breakfast ready: bread and fish by a charcoal fire.

The last time Peter was by a charcoal fire, he denied Yeshua.

Now, Yeshua restores him with the same element—not to shame, but to redeem.