Ezra 9:10-15 – Don’t test the patience of God

To get to the root of a problem, an honest appraisal is required. As it was for the people of Israel, it will be for us. Ezra confessed that as His people, Israel did not take heed to the instruction of God, who had warned them of the impurity of the people and the land which they were entering to possess. They were warned not to have any alliance with the natives of Canaan, whether in marriage, business, or lifestyle. God’s objective was to prevent an unholy model for the subsequent generations. Their failure to take God’s instruction had them into needless judgments. Yet even in His Judgment, His mercy toward them was clear. Israel had received less than what their sin deserved.  

Graciously, God had allowed a remnant to return to rebuild Jerusalem. In the light of God’s great mercy, Ezra shuddered to observe how the remnant could fall into the same disobedience that had previously led the nation into God’s judgment. So he asked two rhetorical questions. The first question is “shall we again break Your commandments and intermarry with the peoples who commit these abominations? This question should be answered with a “no.”  God’s people must not test the patience of God. The second question is “Would You not be angry with us to the point of destruction until there is no remnant nor any who escape?  The answer to this second question is yes, God’s anger could be kindled when we return to commit the same sin again. This time there may be no way out of His judgment.

In verse 15, Ezra then rounded up praying, “O Lord God of Israel, You are righteous, for we have been left an escaped remnant, as it is this day; behold, we are before You in our guilt, for no one can stand before You because of this.” He humbly threw himself into the mercy of God and pled with Him not to destroy His people.

In verse 15, Ezra then rounded up praying, “O Lord God of Israel, You are righteous, for we have been left an escaped remnant, as it is this day; behold, we are before You in our guilt, for no one can stand before You because of this.” He humbly threw himself into the mercy of God and pled with Him not to destroy His people.

Lesson 1 - God is patient, but that does not mean that we can test it. While God is patient, it does not give us the right to wear it thin.

Lesson 2 - do not spurn the grace of God. Don’t repeat the sin that He has so graciously forgiven. To do so would be like returning to our vomit.

Lesson 3 - seek to know God’s Word but more importantly seek to obey it to avoid needly discipline.  Remember Hebrews 3:7, “Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your heart as in rebellion…!”