It may seem paradoxical, this title. The incredible book of Ezra ends with a jaw-dropping account of, “Not again, for crying out loud.”
Contextually, Israel has been brought out of exile, allowed to rebuild the Temple, have started to rebuild their lives, and what do they do, no sooner than gaining freedom are they sojourning with paganism, A G A I N.
Ezra 10 echoes 2 Corinthians 6 vs 14-16. God calls us to influence the world, not to be influenced by it and its corrupted ways heading towards destruction.
To quote, “Being unequally yoked means that the two oxen are not equal in strength – one being weaker. When oxen are not equally yoked, they can not complete a task together well.” – https://www.crosswalk.com/family/singles/why-being-unequally-yoked-is-more-dangerous-than-you-think.html#:~:text=Being%20unequally%20yoked%20means%20that,that%20God%20wants%20for%20them.
There is a lesson to draw from in Ezra 10 and 2 Corinthians 6 vs 14-16 about rising to the occasion in obeying God. Even inconveniently to our flesh. Ezra 10 teaches us that obedience out of the love for God comes at a price not found in our comfort zones.
Notice alarming facts in these Holy Passages:
* The people sat in the open square
* It was raining
* They were trembling both from guilt and being cold in the pouring raining
This event in Ezra happened during the heavy rain season. Not just mild drizzle but raining cats-and-dogs.
THE QUESTION WE ARE CONFRONTED WITH IS, “NO MATTER WHAT IS GOING ON, ARE WE HUNGRY ENOUGH TO BE RIGHT WITH GOD THAT WE WILL SUFFER INCONVENIENCE TO GAIN RIGHT STANDING?”
They say ignorance is bliss, but that is merely the mantra of our humanist god-complex playing indifference so that we avoid the discomfort of acknowledging our unwillingness to admit we don’t have control, AND avoiding the truths of our personal corruption.
So what was the guilt of the exiles?
Ezra 10 vs 10-11 tells us that the people allowed themselves to be seduced into paganism by lack of control of their sexual appetites. Throughout the Holy Bible God warns us that lust can seduce us into abandoning truth for temporary pleasure that can cost us eternal salvation.
Have you noticed that so-called spirituality appeals loudly to our feel-good factor- delicious foods, elaborate rituals, repetitive practices, dress codes, nice words, a sense of private community, sexual connotations?
All these seductions trigger our body’s hormone release that con us into thinking we are being spiritual when all we are doing is feeding ourselves what our flesh desires- self glory.
God, however, calls us to ‘die to self’, ‘crucify our flesh’, and obedience even when it hurts. As the saying goes, “If Christianity was easy, everyone would be doing it.”
As I write this blog, led by God’s Holy Spirit, I too am guilty as the Israelites are in Ezra. Not because I unequally yoked myself, but because I allowed a pagan to disturb me so much that I opted out of a prayer meeting at church to be away from people. My guilt, like the Israelites, is that I let others get in the way of my relationship with God. Hereby, is my confession, and commitment to not let it happen again. I write this blog, trembling too. My humanism got in the way. I let my need to lick my wounds in the comfort of my home stop me from worshipping God, for a moment. I let the inconvenience of being hurt stop me from taking the hurt to THEE HEALER.
I love God.
God has a way of reflecting myself to me through His Holy Word that helps me step out of my conditioning, face the truth, confess and ask God to help change me which is what true repentance is.
WHAT IN YOUR LIFE IS A CONDITIONED REACTION, A COMFORT ZONE BEHAVIOUR THAT STOPS YOU FROM BEING TRULY HONEST AND VULNERABLE BEFORE GOD?
Like the Israelites had to admit their guilt in the pouring rain, we too are called to ”work out our salvation with fear and trembling”- Philippines 2 vs 12-13.
ARE WE HUNGRY ENOUGH FOR GOD THAT INCONVENIENCE TO OUR FLESH IS A MINOR PRICE TO PAY FOR THE GLORY, LOVE, PRESENCE, AND PURIFICATION FROM GOD THAT BRINGS BLESSING, FAVOUR, AND THE ULTIMATE PRIZE OF HIM ETERNALLY?
PRAY THIS:
God,
I come before You, admitting that I am a sinner who let’s inconvenience get in the way of pursuing You fully. Please help me be willing to die to self and seek you with all of myself even if it means letting go of conditioned comfort zones.
In Messiah King Jesus Mighty Name
AMEN
#Hayibo 