Inter-race Marriage

After these things had been done (the handing over of the treasure to the priests), the leaders approached me and said: "The people of Israel, the priests, and the Levites have not separated themselves from the surrounding people's whose detestable practices are like those of the Canaanites, Hittites, Perezites, Jebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians, and Amorites. Indeed, the Israelite men have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and their sons, so that the holy seed has become mixed with the surrounding people's. The leaders and officials have taken the lead in this unfaithfulness! Ezra 9:1,2

Israel knew the importance of staying pure, especially in regard to who they married. They knew that marrying a woman of another race would lead to idolatry, as all the surrounding races of people practised idolatry.

Do we, the Christians, still believe it is important who we marry? Scripture tells us not to be unequally yoked with non- believers. What do non-believers do to our faith? Unless we are very strong, our faith becomes watered down, little by little, our children are taught two standards.

The sad thing here was the leaders led the way into wrong practices. By doing this they not only disobeyed God themselves, but took others with them. Jesus Himself said they would be judged the more harshly because of their knowing the truth and leading others to the lie. Leaders had to other recourse but to repent and change their ways or be judged. The Old Testament law was not kind to this sort of thing.

What does God want of us? Our heart! If He truely has my heart would I mix my faith with that of an unbeliever? I don't think so. I would stay faithful and trust Him.

Nonetheless I am not your judge, but if you are my leader I will require you to be pure.