For many reasons 2020 was a hard year. And just when we thought it couldn’t get worse, we had the report that Ravi Zacharias led a double life. To say it hit like a sock in the gut is an understatement. It seemed unfathomable that this statesmen could live like this when we had such a powerful ministry.
“Let God be true and every man a liar” (Rom 3:4).
“For God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable” (Rom 11:29).
It was such anguish of the soul for the body of Christ. His ministry, his family, the victims, everyone was devastated at his sin. Even now I pray for the fallout of this situation.
If Ezra would have been around in this time, I believe he would have pulled out his beard and hair, a sign of the most profound grief one can demonstrate. Because that is what he did with Israel.
Israel had been in captivity for more than 70 years as punishment for their sins. They were separated from their homeland, ruled by foreign leaders, and were subject to whatever their captives demanded. Yet even in this God showed favor and did not destroy them totally.
They were now back in the land of promise as God for a brief moment showed them grace (Ezra 9:8). He moved the Persian king to return them to their own land and bless them with all that they needed to rebuild.
After Ezra started settling in, some leaders came to meet with him. They were God-followers and told Ezra the anguish of their soul. Some of the leaders, priests and Levites had intermarried with the peoples of the land, something the Lord had directly forbidden them to do. Not only that, but
“the leaders and officials have taken the lead in this unfaithfulness!” (Ezra 9:2).
Ezra was shattered.
“When I heard this report, I tore my tunic and robe, pulled out some of the hair from my head and beard, and sat down devastated” (Ezra 9:3).
After all that they had suffered, they were running right back into rebellion against God? After God had shown them a moment of mercy? Would not God now utterly destroy them?
Ezra began to pray.
“My God, I am ashamed and embarrassed to lift my face toward You, my God, because our iniquities are higher than our heads and our guilt is as high as the heavens...” (Ezra 9:6)
“You, our God, have punished us less than our sins deserve, and have allowed us to survive…” (Ezra 9:13)
“LORD God of Israel, You are righteous, for we survive as a remnant today. Here we are before You with our guilt, though no one can stand in Your presence because of this” (Ezra 9:15).
It’s all Ezra could do. Throw himself on the mercy of the Lord.
It’s like a criminal that committed a terrible crime and was rightfully sentenced to life in prison. And through a moment of mercy, the judge paroles them giving them another chance. Only for the criminal to run right back to his crimes again. What do you think that judge will do? His mercy and grace that he extended has been violated.
This was Israel.
Ezra was shattered.
It’s like the family of Ravi Zacharias. I hear that they aren’t devastated by the news coming out. Rather they have been “decimated” (Here).
It wasn’t just the people that fell, it was the leaders. That’s what makes the wound hurt more deeply. And in scenarios like this, one can only throw themselves at the feet of God.
