Ezra 10:1-44
“Now while Ezra was praying and making confession, weeping and prostrating himself before God, a vary large assembly, men, women, and children, gathered to him from Israel; for the people wept greatly.” (1) Ezra’s humble posturing before God in prayer and repentance over the state of Israel pulled others into this same posture. An example of humble repentance is powerful. We should note this involved assembling and gathering. Corporate repentance from unhealthy relationships interfering with our relationship with God has a domino effect. Here they discovered hope: “…’We have been unfaithful to our God and have married foreign women from the peoples of the land; yet now there is hope for Israel in spite of this. So now let’s make a covenant with our God to send away all the wives and their children, following the counsel of my lord and of those who fear the commandment of our God; and let it be done according to the Law.’” (2b-3). Confession is great, but it is not enough! Confession without action aligned with God’s Word falls short of the repentance that results in God’s mercy. All listed in this chapter paid a great price in their repentance by letting go of these relationships [wives & children]. May we have the wisdom to embrace this kind of repentance.