Pagan Wives Put Away

Ezra 10:18–44
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Here is a list of the priests who had agreed to divorce their foreign wives and to sacrifice a ram as a sin offering (vv. 18-44). Although putting these pagan wives away was a severe solution, it appears that it only involved 113 of the approximately 29,000 families. This list of guilty men attests to a momentary purge and purification of these people of Judah. Some 12 and 25 years later (Neh 10:30 and 13:23-29), Nehemiah had to confront the same sin of mixed marriages once again.

Ezra recognized that if God gave the people what they deserved they would not be able to stand before Him. Just as in Ezra’s day, we often cry out for justice when we feel abused and unfairly treated. How fortunate we are that God gives us mercy and grace rather than only justice. The next time you ask God for fair and just treatment, pause to think about what would happen if God gave you what you asked for!!!! Plead instead for His mercy.

Why were these men commanded to send away their wives and children? Although this order seems to be extreme, intermarriage to heathens was strictly forbidden (Deut. 7:3-4) and even the Priests and Levis had intermarried. This could be compared today to a Christian marrying a devil worshiper. Ezra’s strong act was necessary to preserve Israel as a nation committed to God.

Application

No one is so far away from God that he or she cannot be restored. Repentance is all that is required. I am thankful that God hates sin but that He loves the sinner and that is why I could be saved