February 07, 2010

Letting Go and Grabbing Hold

Far a thousand years God had forbidden Israel to intermarry with their neighbors. Why did God forbid such unions, and why was it necessary for the Jews of Ezra's day to break off their relationships with non-Jewish wives? Why will God not compromise on His word? Must we still let go of all known sin today in order to take hold of God's blessing? (Ezra 9:1--10:1)

Meet the Neighbors

When a new group of exiled Jews led by Ezra arrived in Jerusalem and offered sacrifices in the rebuilt Temple, Jewish leaders informed Ezra that Jewish men had married women "of the land." The officials' report stated that these indigenous wives were from "the neighboring peoples with their detestable practices, like those of the Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians, and Amorites." Except for the Ammonites, Moabites, and Egyptians, these people groups had disappeared before Ezra's time. So, who were these people, and why were they considered such a threat to the returning exiles? Let's find out in this week's Illustrated Bible Life article, "Meet the Neighbors."