Have you ever heard the saying that God has no grandchildren? It’s a simple yet powerful reminder that we cannot depend on our Christian heritage for our salvation. We must personally trust in Jesus and turn from our sins.

Ezra had confessed Israel’s sin to God. But that was not enough—the people responsible also needed to confess in order to be made right with God. In Ezra 10, we are told that the prophet had led the people faithfully. In verse 1 we see him “praying and confessing, weeping and throwing himself down before the house of God.” During this time, a large crowd gathered around him including “men, women and children” (v. 1). The inclusion of women and children is significant and countercultural for the ancient world. Women and children would not typically be included in such a group, yet the Scripture makes clear that God’s salvation is open and available to all.

A leader arose from the group, confessing their sin to Ezra: “We have been unfaithful to our God by marrying foreign women from the peoples around us” (v. 2). The people of Israel recognized their sin and confessed it in clear, plain language. There were no excuses, only a clear statement of the facts.

As we’ve seen throughout the Bible, “there is still hope for Israel” (v. 2). Upon their confession, Ezra withdrew to seek the Lord and issued an order for all the people of Israel to “assemble in Jerusalem”; whoever failed to appear would “forfeit all his property” (vv. 7–8). This was a reminder that sin is serious, and the people must deal with it seriously.

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