Ezra ends with a mixture of emotions. The people are called to return to the covenant faithfulness of God and to act together against sin. For us today, we do this in the power of the Spirit knowing our only hope in the fight against sin is with Jesus.

Ezra also ends with a devastating scene of mass separation and a break-up of the families who have intermarried. It is ugly and painful. It leaves us wondering ‘is this it? is this how God’s covenant promises play out?’ The answer is NO, because there is a greater Ezra coming, who will fulfil the law, act beyond anything Ezra could do, and welcome men women and children from the nations into the Kingdom in an expansive, explosive ministry. Ezra ends on a downer to point us to our only hope that is Christ!