Ezra 9 and 10

Study 7 – Ezra 9 and 10

1. The people of God had begun to intermarry with the foreigners around them who were worshipers of other gods. The problem never has been that one cannot marry outside of one’s own race or ethnicity, the problem is marrying outside of the faith. It was the fact that these people served other gods that resulted in these relationships being sinful. Any way in which we embrace the things of this world that are contrary to the things of God should be considered sin.
   
   
2. Leadership cannot sit back and let sin be swept under the rug. It must be exposed and it must be repented of publicly. To distance oneself from the mistakes of sin is not without consequence. The public humiliation as well as the pain that can be involved in letting go of our old ways is never easy.