2. In 10:18–44, why do you think Ezra chose to include the names of the men who had intermarried?
FOUNDATIONAL TRUTH
MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE The end of the book of Ezra records a difficult event regarding marriages between Israelite men and pagan women who worshiped idols. The Israelites were commanded before entering the promised land not to intermarry with pagan nations so they would not be drawn into idolatry (Deut. 7:3–4), and the men referenced in Ezra knew this. Furthermore, it was idolatry that had caused Israel to be handed over to Babylon and exiled in the first place. As such, it might be expected that those who returned from exile would be particularly careful about idol worship. Unfortunately, when Ezra arrived in Jerusalem and began teaching God’s Word, he was quickly informed about widespread intermarriage with pagan women. He immediately engaged in mourning and confession over this sin. Thankfully the Holy Spirit moved in Israel to bring about repentance in the people. Eventually, all the men agreed to put an end to this sin, and a three-month inquiry was conducted, examining each individual case to see if the woman involved would abandon her idols and join the Israelite community by putting her faith in God. It is important to note that the reason these intermarriages were a problem had nothing to do with the woman’s ethnicity; rather it had everything to do with her religion. Ancient Israel was a nation set apart for the Lord, and those who chose not to worship God could not be part of it. However, anyone who did choose to worship God could be welcomed into the community. In the end, based on the inquiry, only about a hundred women had to be divorced from their husbands. While divorce grieves the heart of God, in this case, it was the best that could be done in this difficult situation. In the New Testament, believers are also clearly instructed not to marry un- believers (2 Cor. 6:14; 1 Cor. 7:39). However, if a believer is already married to an unbeliever, Paul specifically says they should remain married if possible (1 Cor. 7:12–13). While there are a few specific circumstances in which divorce is permitted, God’s design for marriage is (and always has been) a permanent,
120 | Lesson 11
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