June 16, 2023
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in Ezra? Here’s today’s reading:
Ezra 10 (NIV)
The People’s Confession of Sin
1 While Ezra was praying and confessing, weeping and throwing himself down before the house of God, a large crowd of Israelites—men, women and children—gathered around him. They too wept bitterly. 2 Then Shekaniah son of Jehiel, one of the descendants of Elam, said to Ezra, “We have been unfaithful to our God by marrying foreign women from the peoples around us. But in spite of this, there is still hope for Israel........Continue Reading
So they take their time and make it right. It took 3 months for them to determine of this vey long list of men who married pagan woman which of these women may have truly had a change in their lives and heart and decided to follow God.
I do believe it is possible for a marriage that starts with two people at a different places in their faith walk to work over time with maturity and prayer. However, typically you do not see success when the two believe completely different things. It will be a daily struggle because once you believe and put your faith in God acknowledging all He has done for you it changes your heart in relationships, parenting, and so many aspects of your life. Therefore it is almost impossible to find agreement when the two people’s hearts are not in that same place.
Ezra 10
I cannot imagine sending your family away. How selfish they were to put their family’s in that situation to have to choose. I understand why but they were given chance after chance to correct their behavior. They saw what Gods wrath was like. We should not put anything to a test. We have a blueprint in the Bible.
Ezra 10
Ezra 10
Ezra 10
What a great picture of confession and repentance given here. That we would do so well. I love when the Bible gives gives details of processes, events and people’s names. It just reminds us that these are real circumstances that God is working through to bring people in line with His will. We will learn the benefit and truth of that will sooner or later…and the longer it takes the more collateral damage and harm it brings to us and others. The chapter also makes me think what greater accountability would look like in our lives..not from the unwilling, but from the willing. And although we are not accountable for other’s sins, we have a role in each other’s lives to foster greater knowledge and adherence to the things of God.
What a difference Christ made. To think that God’s promise to Abraham, to bless all nations through him, would allow for Jew and Gentile to have a relationship with God. No more division. When reading the Old Testament, it is hard not to lay our own values on it, but consider…no Christ. These other nations carried out abominable practices….even the women and children.
Psalm 106 – They did not destroy the peoples,
Concerning whom the Lord had commanded them,
35 But they mingled with the Gentiles
And learned their works;
36 They served their idols,
Which became a snare to them.
37 They even sacrificed their sons
And their daughters to demons,
38 And shed innocent blood,
The blood of their sons and daughters,
Whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan;
And the land was polluted with blood.
39 Thus they were defiled by their own works,
And played the harlot by their own deeds.