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by Kevin Pauley
Miriam and Aaron criticized Moses because of the Cushite woman he married (for he had married a Cushite woman). They said, "Does the LORD speak only through Moses? Does He not also speak through us?" And the LORD heard it. - Numbers 12:1-2 HCSB
Miriam and Aaron criticized Moses, using his marriage to a black Cushite[1] woman as a pretext. I say a pretext because everything they said afterwards leads us to believe their words were completely motivated by jealousy. It is important to note the Lord’s reaction to their accusation. The Lord’s anger burned against them, He afflicted Miriam with leprosy and forced Aaron to humble himself before Moses.[2]
It is impossible for the Ransomed to oppose mixed race marriages seeing as there is an entire book of the Bible dedicated to the depiction of a romance between two people of different races. It’s called the Song of Songs, or the Song of Solomon. There Solomon’s lover describes herself in the following terms as “dark like the tents of Kedar.”[3] In comparing herself to the “tents of Kedar”, she is referring to a Bedouin tribe of north Arabia,[4] whose tents, woven of goat’s hair, are black.
Hashem always made room for interracial relations in His society. Foreigners were allowed to participate in the religious practices of the nation of Israel and even have the same status as a native Israeli so long as they irreversibly committed themselves to God’s chosen people.[5] The same laws applied to both native and adoptive Israelis.[6]
Hashem even gave us the motivation behind this unusually open acceptance of other races. He not only warned against oppressing foreign residents but actually advocated that they be regarded as natives and even loved as one’s own; citing the fact that our ancestors were once foreign residents as sufficient motive.[7] Apparently, the Ransomed, themselves wandering nomads looking forward to their true home with Yahweh, should have a unique empathy for those who are strangers in our midst.
Some may feel that many of the Old Covenant principles do not apply to those who live in the Age of Grace. However, lest we feel that the Lord God has changed His view of interracial relations, we need to consider that on at least four different occasions in the New Covenant the Apostle Paul specifically broke down all racial boundaries.[8]
This is consistent to the Ransomed view that all those who accept Christ become true sons of Abraham, regardless of their genetic makeup, and allow Hashem to fulfill His ancient vow to our spiritual ancestor when He promised to make Abraham the father of and a blessing to many nations.[9]
Therefore, racial differences should not be a hindrance in the marriage of two of God’s children. It is a factor that must be taken into consideration, for differences of language and culture may create tensions in the relationship, but in and of itself, the racial card should not be used to deny two people a loving relationship.
[3] Song of Songs 1:5
[6] Exodus 12:49; 20:10; Leviticus 16:29; 17:12-15; 18:26;
[7] Exodus 23:9; Leviticus 19:33-34
[8] Romans 10:12; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Galatians 3:28; Colossians 3:11
Kevin Pauley is a pastor and writer. He lives in Illinois with his wife, Lynn, their five children and two dogs. His internet address is Berea.
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