Marrying of pagans is solved

EZRA Chapter 10

When Ezra prayed and made his confessions regarding the wickedness of the people, he wept and threw himself on the ground and so did the people. Then Shecaniah, son of Jehiel, a descendant of Elam told Ezra that they would confess their unfaithfulness to God for marrying pagan women. But there was hope in Israel in spite of this. He asked that a covenant with God allow them to divorce their pagan wives and send them away with their children. Then the men would follow the advice given by Ezra and they would follow the law of God.

So Ezra stood up and demanded that the leaders of the priests and Levites and all people of Israel swear they would do as Shecaniah had said. They all swore a solemn oath. Then Ezra went to the room of Jehohanan, son of Eliashib and spent the night, but did not eat any food or drink because he was in mourning for the unfaithfulness of the returned exiles. Then a proclamation was made throughout Judah and Jerusalem that all the returned exiles should come to Jerusalem and those that failed to come in three days would forfeit their property and be expelled from the assembly.

Within three days, all the people of Judah and Benjamin had gathered in Jerusalem and sat in the square before the Temple. Ezra told them they had sinned by marrying pagans and they needed to confess their sin to God and do what God demands.

The whole assembly answered they would do so, but it wasn't something that could be done in a day or two and the rainy season was upon them, so they could not stay in Jerusalem much longer. They asked to let the leaders act in their behalf and everyone with a pagan wife would come back at a scheduled time with the leaders and judges, so that the fierce anger of God would be turned away from them. Only Jonathan, son of Asabel and Jahzeiah, son of Tikvah opposed this plan. So Ezra selected leaders to represent their families and sat down to investigate the matters. By March of the next year, they had finished dealing with the men who had married pagan wives. The list of these men is found in verses 16 through 44.

BIBLE NOTES SHOW: Ezra's decision was a difficult one, but was necessary to preserve Israel as a nation committed to God. Their pagan spouses had caused the people to worship idols.

To forfeit their property meant to be disinherited so that no pagan children would inherit Israel's land.

HOW DOES THIS CHAPTER RELATE TO US TODAY? Repentance cannot be lip service, it must be genuine and can change attitudes and behavior. The Israelites found this to be true. Do you sin and then ask for forgiveness? Are you truly sorry? If so, God will grant you grace and mercy.
Why do we confess to God like the ancient Israelites? Because it is telling God that we recognize our acts of disobedience. Then God's power can refresh us. Nobody can turn so far from God that they cannot be restored. Repentance is all that is required.

Yours in Christ,
Mary

Prayer Requests are needed for:
HEALTH:
Update on my niece Suzanne, she is healing but her leg was crushed and will take many months of doctoring. She is in a nursing home for rehab care. Pray for her healing. Also Gabe, Wanda, Pray for Janice Long’s parents, especially her mother whose cancer has returned and her father with Alzheimer’s and now her mother in law also with Alzheimer’s. Their family is feeling the strain both emotionally and financially. Pray for them. Update on this family: Her mother in law Mary just had a stroke this week. They are being tested by God and need a wealth of prayers. Pray for them now! Pray that they can find a place for Mary that won’t bankrupt the family.
And pray for Arlene’s nephew David and for my neighbor Al who is nearing the end of his life. Pray for Carolyn’s brother Ronald who has cancer.
Pray for our friend Michelle who was diagnosed with MS.
Pray for Cyndi Sullivan who was given 14 months to live with cancer, but has made it six years. The pain has returned and she needs our prayers.
UPDATE on Barb who went in for back surgery and had a heart attack and stroke, she has her speech back and is home , but continues to have a problem with one arm and hand. Thanks to your prayers, she is able to hobble without a cane and has been granted disability. She still has surgery scheduled on her hand, but I saw her recently and her attitude is fantastic.
Update on Marthaline Sargent. She lost her battle with health problems and passed away last Tuesday. Our condolences to her son Patrick and daughter Stacey. Continue to pray for her husband Robert Sargent who is quite ill with lung cancer.
Pray for Judy’s husband who was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer. Pray for her too, that she can deal with the side effects of his illness.
Pray too for Charly’s husband Robert who will soon undergo chemo for his prostate cancer.
Pray for John’s recovery from a heart attack and pray he can stop smoking.
Pray for Debbie who lost her home in a fire last week.
SPIRITUAL UPLIFTING: Gail, Mary
RESTORATION OF FAITH: Al, John
LOVE AND SUPPORT: Claire, Hunter, Brian
SUPPORT: Haiti, Chile, survivors of Japan’s earthquake, survivors of the devastating tornadoes in our southernmost states and Joplin, Missouri. Pray too, for our country’s leaders and our military people who die each day for our freedom.