Yes indeed, Ezra was a great forerunner and a great example for us to follow in many ways. Yet, we are to learn not only from that which Ezra did right. We are also to learn from the mistakes he made such that we do not commit the same errors as he did. After all, we should have the blessing of hindsight thanks to the record of Ezra’s family destructive actions, should we not? The record of Ezra is recorded without any attempt to whitewash either his errors or the inevitable consequences of those errors. And certainly there is also no attempt to take away from Ezra all the credit he is due for his honest and very creditable intentions, is there? Even in spite of the grave error inherent in his action of whole sale family destruction!

Ours is an ongoing road of learning while on our heavenward journey, is it not? And isn’t that’s what’s so unique about the bible, that it records for us the truth without cutting out the missed points, i.e. errors and sins, of anyone, not even those of King David and Solomon, Abram, Isaac, Jacob, Noah, and Adam.

Likewise, our beloved pioneers were for us as SDAs of inestimable value as forerunners. Yet, they too were on this Way. This way of learning, were they not?

I am convinced that we have much to learn that we as a people have failed to learn from our beloved pioneers, both good and bad:

One tremendous lesson of theirs that is really precious to me is their learning curve in regards to Sabbath keeping. After waking up to the Sabbath truth our pioneers, the entire church in those days, kept Sabbath from 6 PM to 6 PM for a full ten years before finally waking up to the biblical truth that the biblical days all begin at sunset, not at 6PM.

That story too is recorded in Ellen Gould White’s books for us to study and learn from. Because it is a little lengthy for this one post and because of its value, I’ll opt to give you this link to the appropriate excerpts out of her writings. Study and be abundantly blessed! Here’s the link:

TreeOfLife.lan.io/NTCh/EGW/ReNewLight.htm

After that, may I suggest also that you find that most valuable book by Ellen G White, Counsels to Sabbath School Workers, and study at least the first chapter or two in that book. Ellen White has some very important messages on those pages for us to learn from!

Yes, I understand that the sevrants of God learn and grow as we journey toward heaven. However, the Bible gives no indication that Ezra made any mistake in his reforms. Also our “beloved pioneer”, Ellen White, positively praised Ezra’s actions, and held him up as a role model for reformers in our time (us). She pointed to his unswerveing devotion to the Law of God, and also his compassion and tact in dealing with others who had sinned.

Sometimes we favor our own ideas more than the Word of God. We tend to trust our own judgment as to what is right or wrong. This is why there are divisions among us. In this final revival we must be willing to give up our ideas and listen to God’s word (yes ,his prophets) whether we understand everything perfectly or not.

Yes, E Huffman, I agree with you that “the Bible gives no indication that Ezra made any mistake in his reforms,” that is, provided all we are looking for is words that specifically condemn Ezra personally for what he did.

However, if you think about it, isn’t the same true about all the men in the Bible who were married to more than one wife? Do you see anyone of them ever being condemned for this commonly accepted behavior? Yet, the consequences are what they are and the Bible is certainly providing a very clear portrait of the consequences of such action, is it not? Or else, why is it that we in the Western “Christian” world are not more accepting of families comprised of one man with more than one wife? Also, the Bible is very clear about its teaching re one husband and one wife in each family, is it not?! Even so, I see no one in the Bible being personally condemned for having missed this point, do you?

Likewise in regards to Ezra’s obvious mistake: The Bible is not pointing the finger at Ezra or directly condemning him as a black sheep. There is no doubt in my mind that Ezra was a most zealous servant of God in doing the very best he knew how to in accordance with his convictions. Yet, the Bible makes it very clear what the consequences of that wholesale family destructive action were. True, it is impossible for you or I to tell what the results would have been had they acted differently. Naturally, the outcome of any alternative action would have been shaped by whatever the nature of such alternative action would have been, would it not? Suppose for instance, that measures would have been taken to educate everyone, including those foreign spouses, and to teach them the wonderful way of our Creator God. Isn’t the book of Ruth a perfect example of that alternative option?

It is quite clear to me from Nehemiah 13:10-11 that “the house of God [was] forsaken” by the people and that “the Levites had not been given” their “portions,” i.e. the tithe that were ordained for them. I find it quite remarkable, considering the importance of the temple generally for the Israelite people, that in such a short time period the people lost trust and confidence in this focal object of theirs. It is not hard for me to understand that the reason for this situation is closely tied to the people’s loss of interest in things associated with the temple and with the priesthood generally as a rather immediate and unavoidable consequence of such an action of wholesale family destruction. You may notice that Ezra is recorded as alive and still very active in Nehemiah Chapter 8, which should also tell us something about the very brief time lapse between cause and consequence in this particular.

You are not suggesting that we should ignore what the Bible is so clearly teaching us in terms of cause and consequence, or are you?

Now, as to Ellen White’s somewhat one eyed praise of Ezra’s action, let’s not forget that in her days the weakened position of the family unit was nowhere near as much of a problem as it is in our present “enlightened” society. The lessons to be drawn from the Bible’s teaching re the actions of Ezra were different then and now.

Today most everyone, certainly not excluding our beloved SDA churches, is giving of their blind support in any number of not so subtle ways towards the whole sale destruction of the family unit. Consider for example subscription fees towards the support of the public media that serve to overwhelm us with this anti-family war propaganda, or our active support as employees and tax payers in the machine known as ‘the system’ and which is designed to grind our families into non-existence.

I have no doubt that had Ellen Gould White been living today she would have been among those all too few who adamantly stand up without wavering against any and all actions amongst us that in any way makes us into being “partakers of her [Babylon’s] sins” in regards to family destructive actions. And isn’t a better and more understandable term for those “sins” of Babylon, the “missed points” and the blindness of Babylon, enlightened as it is by no light at all besides that which issues out of Lucifer himself?

I have no reason to believe that you or I or any good old SDA will openly profess a stand in support of such “enlightenment” as clearly has its source from those powers who systematically do their very best to openly proclaim the “dark color” of the uniforms they are carrying, do you? However, to what extent do we allow ourselves to remain in the dark while in effect being “partakers of her sins?” Indeed, do we really know who we are? Or who we stand up for? Or who we identify with?

Oh boy, and oh girl, do we have good reasons for crying out unto our Savior and Deliverer for guidance and deliverance out of the pot in which we are cooking ourselves, out of the pot that is doing nothing more effectively than destroying our family units and our very own most beloved children and spouses.

Indeed, there is every reason for us to be praying for the Holy Spirit and for that cleansing of our lives and of our societies that only our Creator can provide. Consider “the prayers of the saints:”

“And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odors, which are the prayers of saints.” (Rev 5:8)

“And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand.” (Rev 8:3-4)