The last two chapters of Ezra are really challenging. Ezra confronts sin (which is good), but in doing so he divides families (that's the tough part). We will take a closer look at this on Sunday, but after reading the passage, what about it challenges you?
Although not a part of the "official reading list", I suggest comparing Ezra 9-10 with Nehemiah 13:23-31. The same issue is being addressed.
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8 comments:
Having to do what was required of the people in Ezra and break up their homes would be tough. We have been blessed, that by asking for forgiveness and Jesus to be our Savior we are saved.
I understand the sin of marrying the pagan women and turning away from God to idol worship etc. but what I find troubling is Ezra's advice to separate from their wives. Since they were already married, and some even had children, why would he tell them to leave instead of telling them to turn from their sin and then be the leader of their family and begin teaching their wives and children about God? I think turning their backs on them was another sin.
Do you think Matthew 5:29-30 might have some application here? It is where Jesus says it is better to remove a body part that to allow that part to lead you so sin.
Imagine the courage that would have taken to turn your back on the family you had started. I would think also that if they were married it would be better to stay together. Is anything mentioned in the law about staying together is they are married?
Matthew 5:29-30 is saying to get rid of things in your life that are causing you to sin. However, if you read further in Matthew 5, it talks about the sin that divorce can cause. Marriage is meant to be forever. The men had broke the law by marrying pagan women who may have been leading the them away from God, but they could have still been faithful wives. Maybe Ezra didn't mean for the men to really leave their wives, but to separate themselves from the sins that they were committing due to the influence of their wives not being Christians.???
Their wives were definitely not Christian because they were living hundreds of years before Christ's birth! Seriously though, it's obvious that the New Testament teaches a different perspective on marriage than the Old (at least as Ezra is dealing with the issue, although believers are to marry believers). This is in keeping with the change in Covenants (Law to grace). This isn't the only difficult passage we read in the OT that SEEMS to stand in contradiction to the NT. One thing we can say for sure...I bet you can't wait to hear what I have to say about this on Sunday morning!
More reading...Bob, this may help answer your question.
Deut 24:1-4, Mal 2:10-16
Divorce was allowed (in certain circumstances, as it is in the NT...and an option likely abused as it always has been) but it is never pleasing to God.
Okay, I am glad that you knew what I meant when I referred to the women as not being Christian. I was just a little ahead in my thinking!!
I like the Day 5 reading in Chronicles. It's a nice ending to this study in Ezra. It kind of sums up everything into a nice, little, easy to undertand package. And, yes, I am looking forward to you answering all of our questions on Sunday!
What a difference between Ezra's harsh command and Paul's loving advice in I Cor. 7:12-16. It certainly displays a loving God's view of women and children as real, worthwhile human beings, not as "disposable property." How we should thank Him for that change from law to grace!
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