Return to rebuild - the Historical account of Ezra Thru the Bible: Ezra 9-10 In these final chapters in our study of Ezra, the rebuilding effort is again threatened only this time from within. Many of the men in Israel had taken foreign wives from their captivity. This was in direct violation to the command of God which He gave to Israel before they ever entered into the promised land. He warned them that in taking foreign wives, they would turn their hearts away from serving God to pagan idols. God warned that if they ever did this His anger would be stirred and their destruction would come. This is EXACTLY what Ezra was praying would never happen again and the unfaithfulness of these men were threatening the very peace and favor with their captors God had mercifully arranged. These two chapters introduce some very important issues which still effect God's people today. Christians believe it is acceptable to marry the lost and suppose that they will eventually conform them, but the truth is quite the opposite which both God predicted and history has proven. The commands regarding Christian marriage inthe New Testament and under the New Covenant are not much different than those of the old and we cover those topics rather closely in this lesson. May God bless you in your pursuit of Him and conformity to His ways and will. Blessings!