Ezra 10:19-44 – Living responsibly

In these closing verses of Ezra 10, we find a list of offenders. In every segment of the returnees, from leaders to followers, from priests to Levites, singers to ordinary Israelites there were found among them those who had busted the warning not to marry foreign wives. These were said to have married foreign wives and some even had children from their marriages. Instead of making it to the hall of fame, these had made it to the hall of shame. The one positive thing we walk away from these verses is that they were all willing put away their foreign wives and offered sacrifices for their sins. It is here that they left us a lesson. Sin will surely be found in our walk with God, the important thing is that when the Holy Spirit reveals to us, we must deal with it immediately and swiftly.

Here are a few critical questions we need to ask so that we will be challenged to walk thoughtfully. Which hall would we rather be in, the hall of fame or the hall of shame? Would we rather be a hero of faith or a zero of faith? So many people committing the same offense could be a case of “monkey see monkey do” These verses underscore for us the necessity to be vigilant in our faith journey. We are each personally accountable to God. It’s important who we take as a model in our journey with God. It is good to make this a maxim in life, “others may but I cannot.” We must all make time to evaluate and appraise our spirituality frequently. Just because others are doing it, it does not mean that we must do it. Let’s be wise, seek to understand what the will of God is, and live to honor God!