Holy Race?

When these things had been done, the Jewish leaders came to me and said, “Many of the people of Israel, and even some of the priests and Levites, have not kept themselves separate from the other peoples living in the land. They have taken up the detestable practices of the Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians, and Amorites. For the men of Israel have married women from these people and have taken them as wives for their sons. So the holy race has become polluted by these mixed marriages. Worse yet, the leaders and officials have led the way in this outrage.” [Ezra 9.1-2]

While there may be some who would use this passage as an excuse for racism, it would be done in ignorance.

The key to understanding what is being described here has to do with the word "holy." The "holy" race was polluted by mixed marriages. The focus is on "holy."

The apostle Paul was clear in 1 Corinthians 7 that a believer married to an unbeliever would create difficulties. For that matter, a believer is warned against any kind of union with an unbeliever (including business, etc.) in 2 Corinthians 6.14-18.

It all comes back to the word "holy."

"Holy" is what God is. It is pure and it is powerful. In fact, its power is found in its purity. And that is precisely why a "blend" is no good.

Now, in 1 Corinthians 7, Paul did make concessions for marriages between believers and unbelievers. However, it was based on the willingness of the unbeliever to allow the believer to particularly influence the children to be believers. Otherwise, divorce was permitted.

I am making no claims of my own about divorce here. What I am saying is that God has but one goal for mankind and that is salvation. His goal is pure and simple. it is holy.

God's holy pure goal of salvation also applies to anything we do. We should examine everything we do to determine whether it is focused on God's pure goal, or whether it is contaminated with other motives.

Ouch.

Father, let my life be spent focused on Your goal of salvation for the world. Let it be seen at home, at work, and at church. Let it be seen in my life wherever I may be.