There is hope in Israel

Wesley Wright

Lighthouse Bible Church

Sunday, November 30, 2025

 

Title: There is hope in Israel

 

Ezr10:1-44

 

Ezra actions compelled those of the people (EZR 10:1-4) — the same way bad leadership hurt the people, his actions helped them see their sin for what it was.

 

HOS 4:1-10

 

In a similar way that we see a contrast between Ezra and priests prior, there’s a major one between Jesus Christ and the wayward priests of old.

 

EZE 34:1-5

 

JOH 10:10-16

 

Jesus Christ made it clear that his listeners were to change their behaviors:

 

MAR 1:14-20

 

 

The people agree to leave their wives and the children that came from those foreign wives (EZR 10:3-5).

 

They did so according to the law, which we aren’t under. You have an obligation to take care of your children (1TI 5:8) and your wife (EPH 5:22-31).

 

Remember that Ezra fasted earlier in the book looking for an answer from God (EZR 8:21-23). This fast is of a very different nature.

 

Ezra had such grief over the sin of the exiles (those that were previously in Babylon) that he did not eat or drink (EZR 10:6).

 

Fasting = common OT response to grief over sin:

JOE 1:5-15

JON 3:3-10

ISA 58:3-6

 

 

Any who did not respond within three days would forfeiting his belongings and be removed (EZR 10:7-8). That urgency means they understood the gravity of their sin, too.

 

The Lord does not despise a broken and contrite heart, which the people largely had. ISA 57:15, PSA 51:17

 

Ezra gave the direction to end these marriages (EZR 10:11) but so many had entered them that it took some time to take care of them all, especially with rain coming down (EZR 10:9-14).

 

It says that many committed this transgression, so many that everyone could not take care of this in one day.

 

Israel was unfaithful then — and now — but that won’t be the case forever.

 

HOS 2:14-23 (remember the marriage symbol in Hosea)

 

Notice that Meshullam, a Levite (!) is one of the men who helps administratively at the time, per EZR 10:15 (ref. EZR 8:16). He was in that second group.

 

There’s one more sacrifice, this time a sin offering (EZR 10:19). Remember Jesus Christ is a perfect offering for sin, once and for all.

 

From v. 18 to the end of the chapter lists all the names of the priests who had foreign wives — roughly two-thirds of the chapter lays out their pervasive sin.

 

As wayward as the people had become, Shechaniah said there was hope in Israel (EZR 10:2). As long as the Lord can keep his word, we have hope too,

in His Son Christ.

 

God preserved Israel for His own Name’s sake, not because they deserved it. We don’t deserve what we have in Christ, either. Praise the Lord anyhow!

 

Remember:

The Lord showed patience + grace

Marriages pulled Israelites away

Grief + acknowledgement via excellent leadership