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38. Ezra (Uzair)
· Read in The Qur’an – 9:30, 17:56, 19:88
· Read in The Tanakh and The Bible – Nehemiah 8, Ezra
Readings from The Qur’an:
· The Qur'an 9:30. “And the Jews say: “Uzair (Ezra) is the son of Allah”
· The Qur'an 17:56. “Say (0 Muhammad): "Call upon those - besides Him- whom you pretend [to be gods like angels, 'Isa (Jesus), 'Uzair (Ezra), and others.]. They have neither the power to remove the adversity from you nor even to shift it from you to another person.”
· The Qur’an 19:88 “And they say: "The Most Gracious (Allâh) has begotten a son (or offspring or children) [as the Jews say: ‘Uzair (Ezra) is the son of Allâh, and the Christians say that He has begotten a son [‘Îsâ (Jesus)], and the pagan Arabs say that He has begotten daughters (angels and others.)].”
· Why is this (“Ezra is the son of Allah”) in the Qur’an when this is not a belief of Judaism? Where did this statement about Jews come from if it is not in the Tanakh?
Readings from The Tanakh and The Bible:
· Ezra 7:1–10 “Now after this, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, son of Azariah, son of Hilkiah, [2] son of Shallum, son of Zadok, son of Ahitub, [3] son of Amariah, son of Azariah, son of Meraioth, [4] son of Zerahiah, son of Uzzi, son of Bukki, [5] son of Abishua, son of Phinehas, son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the chief priest—[6] this Ezra went up from Babylonia. He was a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses that the LORD, the God of Israel, had given, and the king granted him all that he asked, for the hand of the LORD his God was on him… the good hand of his God was on him. [10] For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the LORD, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel.”
· How is Ezra described? Why is his family lineage important? What can we learn and imitate from Ezra?
· Ezra 10:1 “While Ezra prayed and made confession, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, a very great assembly of men, women, and children, gathered to him out of Israel, for the people wept bitterly.”
· Ezra 10:10–11 “And Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, “You have broken faith and married foreign women, and so increased the guilt of Israel. [11] Now then make confession to the LORD, the God of your fathers and do his will. Separate yourselves from the peoples of the land and from the foreign wives.”
· How serious does Ezra take sin? How does the Tanakh and Bible teach us about the seriousness and specifics of sin? How do you need to take sin more serious?
· Nehemiah 8:2–6 “So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could understand what they heard, on the first day of the seventh month. [3] And he read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand. And the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law. [4] And Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform that they had made for the purpose. And beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand, and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam on his left hand. [5] And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people, and as he opened it all the people stood. [6] And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God, and all the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground.”
· How does Ezra prioritize the Tankah and Bible? How are you prioritizing the Word of God daily? How do you want to improve in your time in the Word?
See also:
· “What does the Bible say about Ezra?” www.trustworthyword.com/ezra
· “Bible Reading Plans” www.smallgroupquestions.com/whole-bible-reading-plan (free book download)
· “Small Group Discussion Bible Study Questions” www.smallgroupquestions.com (free book download)