Ezra Chapter 10
Please read: Ezra 10 –
These people of Israel had been told from the beginning that they were called to be separate unto God. He had given them commandments that they were not to intermarry with the people who worshipped gods and idols. God had told them that He was a jealous God. Yet we find that they had disobeyed God once again and entered into marriages with foreign women. This was the same sin problem that had led to the downfall of the people previously. The people had worshipped other gods and turned their backs on the one true living God.
In this chapter we find that there is recognition of that sin and confession. Confession of sin is always the first step in getting right with God. The people themselves, not Ezra, spoke up and said they knew the thing they must do was to divorce the foreign wives. This would seem contradictory to scripture, but the greater evil would be if they remained married to them and became a people as they were. A people whose sin caused God to pronounce judgement and to lead them away again into captivity.
Let's Reflect
1. In the beginning of this chapter, we see the great grief of Ezra as he prayed regarding the sins of the people. Who was also there weeping and praying with him?
2. What was the name of the man who spoke for the people regarding a confession of the sin of the people?
3. According to verse 3 this same man suggested a solution to their sin problem. He proposed that they should divorce these foreigners. There was a recognition that this would be a very hard thing to do. Many of the couples already had children. But they asked Ezra, as their spiritual leader, to lead them in this decision. In verse 3 we find that there was a proper heart attitude. While it would be a very difficult task they feared who more?
4. Ezra knew that he would not be able to do this by himself and so he organized men who would serve in this capacity as those who would declare those marriages unlawful and annulled or divorced. What did Ezra make these Levites and priests do first?
5. How did the officials get all the people to come to Jerusalem so they could carry out this decision?
6. It is fitting that at a time when the men were called by Ezra to confess their sins that the weather was doing what?
7. The men agreed that they had sinned and would put away their foreign wives. It would take time and someone suggested that the officials call them to Jerusalem on a schedule to take care of this. According to verse 12 what was the overall consensus of the people?
8. This had become a serious sin problem in the land of Israel already. It took nearly 3 months to officially take care of it. Why do you think the names of the men who had taken foreign wives are listed in the book of Ezra?
