‘And now for a little while grace has been shown from the Lord our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a peg in His holy place, that our God may enlighten our eyes and give us a measure of revival in our bondage. ‘
Ezra 9:8
I’m learning.
And.
God.
Has been.
Faithful.
In.
Teaching me.
That.
Even.
In.
My sin.
Or.
Transgressions.
There’s.
A way.
Out.
Of.
It!
This morning.
As I.
Read.
Ezra 9.
And.
10.
I noticed.
How.
Ezra.
Mourned.
And.
Prayed.
Over.
The children.
Of.
Israel.
Because.
Of.
Their.
Sins.
Against.
God.
‘Now while Ezra was praying, and while he was confessing, weeping, and bowing down before the house of God, a very large assembly of men, women, and children gathered to him from Israel; for the people wept very bitterly. ‘
Ezra 10:1
Ultimately.
The.
Children.
Of.
Israel.
Sinned.
Against.
God.
By.
Not.
Obeying.
His.
Command.
Of.
Not.
Marrying.
Or.
Giving.
Their.
Daughters.
To be.
Married.
With.
The people.
That.
Possessed.
The land.
God.
Gave.
Them.
‘When these things were done, the leaders came to me, saying, “The people of Israel and the priests and the Levites have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands, with respect to the abominations of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites. For they have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and their sons, so that the holy seed is mixed with the peoples of those lands. Indeed, the hand of the leaders and rulers has been foremost in this trespass.” ‘
Ezra 9:1-2
Ezra.
Didn’t.
Directly.
Deal.
With.
The people.
That.
Sinned.
Against.
God.
However.
His.
First.
Response.
Was.
To.
Humble.
Himself.
And.
Pray.
For.
Them!
‘At the evening sacrifice I arose from my fasting; and having torn my garment and my robe, I fell on my knees and spread out my hands to the Lord my God. And I said: “O my God, I am too ashamed and humiliated to lift up my face to You, my God; for our iniquities have risen higher than our heads, and our guilt has grown up to the heavens. ‘
Ezra 9:5-6
Look.
We.
Will.
Get.
It.
Wrong.
And.
Sin.
Against.
God.
However.
This.
Isn’t.
An.
Excuse.
To.
Remain.
Disobedient.
And.
Wallow.
In.
Our.
Sins!
We.
Must.
Get up.
And.
Confess.
Our.
Sin.
And.
Get.
It.
Right.
With.
The Lord!
‘And Shechaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, spoke up and said to Ezra, “We have trespassed against our God, and have taken pagan wives from the peoples of the land; yet now there is hope in Israel in spite of this. Now therefore, let us make a covenant with our God to put away all these wives and those who have been born to them, according to the advice of my master and of those who tremble at the commandment of our God; and let it be done according to the law. ‘
Ezra 10:2-3
There’s.
Always.
A way.
Out.
But.
We.
Must.
Be.
Of.
Good.
Courage.
To.
Do it!
‘Arise, for this matter is your responsibility. We also are with you. Be of good courage, and do it. ”’
Ezra 10:4
I pray.
That you.
Don’t.
Let.
Your.
Sin.
Rule.
Over.
You!
‘No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.’
I Corinthians 10:13
Instead.
Confess.
It.
And.
Get back.
In.
God’s.
Will!
For.
Your.
Life!
I love you!
And.
I pray your day is blessed!
In Jesus name, Amen!
