Ezra 9: 1 "Ezra, the Israelites, including the priests and Levites, have not kept themselves separate from the people around us.... 2 The Israelite men and their sons have married these women. They have mixed the people who blong to God with the people around them."

9:13 What has happened to us is our own fault. We have done evil things, and our guilt is great. But you, our God have punished us less than we deserve...."

10:10 ...You have been unfaithul and have married non-Jewish women. You have made Israel more guilty. 11 Now, confess it to the Lord, the God of our ancestors. Do his will and separate yourselves from the people living around you and from your non-Jewish wives.

When I read these chapters, I thought, wow God is being pretty hardcore. Demanding that the His people separate themselves, in some cases divorce their spouses. Can you imagine? The Israelites probably loved these people, even though it was against the teaching of God in the first place. They had been separated from God and His ways/laws for so long that they did not even know what they were doing was wrong until someone found God's books of teaching and told them so. Of course, this is the Old Testament God, who had not yet officially made Himself open to saving non-Jewish people. And so, the Jews did what God wanted. They left their non-Jewish wives and even their kids, and if they did not, they were separated from all the other Jews. I have a feeling some of them probably took that road.

This is such a metaphor for our lives today. How many times do we have stuff in our lives that we know the God of Heaven would not like? And how many times do we take the road in which we continue to love or do the thing we know He would abhor? Because we think that our wants and desires are the main point of this life. Because we think if we love something then it has to be right, right? But this story is an illustration that we are not to be the ones in control. God is. If we are truly His followers we should be doing His will, giving up those things we know He would not like. When we let go of those things, we put ourselves back in His will and we will be blessed.

As a caveat: Divorcing someone that does not believe in God is not the way that Jesus taught. The God of the New Testament brought an even higher calling: do not marry someone who does not believe in the first place (which is actually what was taught in the OT) . But, if you are already married, stand in your faith, believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and live your life like you believe. The love that fills your life and heart because of Jesus will bring your spouse into His will as well (this is the change of the NT).