Marrying Outside Your Race

 

Marrying outside your race is practiced in large number in the United States and in Europe, and some Biblical readers and scholars, even preachers and priest are against it.

Why would they?

Welcome to BibleStudyMinistry.com – the children of Israel were commanded upon leaving Egypt not to take any of the descendants of Canaan’s children as wives or husbands. The reason being is that God was destroying them for their sins, much like God destroyed Israel for their sins only leaving a remnant.

The children of Canaan were witchcraft fanatics and serve other gods and by entering a league with them, God knew his people would succumb to their gods and force God to destroy His own people, which God did. They would be a thorn in their side as God expressed to Joshua in the book of the Judges chapter 2:3

3 Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you.

In the book of Ezra chapter 9, Ezra was astonished at seeing the returning Jews fall into marriage with the people in the land. Even priest joined in on the folly after God sent them into captivity, yet having grace upon them after 70+ years, to return them to their land.

2 For they have taken of their daughters for themselves, and for their sons:so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with the people of those lands: yea, the hand of the princes and rulers hath been chief in this trespass.

3 And when I heard this thing, I rent my garment and my mantle, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, andsat down astonied.

From the above scriptures, people believe intercultural marriages, especially for the children of Israel, is not permitted. Nothing could be further from the truth. Remember, a mixed multitude left Egypt upon the great exodus.

Moses, the great prophet, married outside of his people. Abraham married Hagar the Egyptian, and Keturah, the Ishmaelite, although the seed of the covenant was through Sarah. I’m sure there are many other righteous men and women who did the same, marry outside of their immediate race.

Timothy, in the New Testament, his mother was a Jew, and his father a Greek. There was the boy who strove in the camp, his mother was an “Israelitish” woman, and he had an Egyptian father (Leviticus 24:10).

All people are children of God. The qualification comes in at the faith level.

Does your potential spouse believe and serve the God of Israel? If not, it is suggested you forbear in making a covenant with them because they may become snares to you and your devotion to the God of Israel.

So is marrying outside of your race permitted?

Yes! However, it is wisdom to be sure they are spiritually children of Israel (Israel is God’s name) before you engage and commence the covenant before God.