Bible Reading: Genesis 9; Ezra 9; Matthew 9; Acts 9
Ezra 9:11-12 Which thou hast commanded by thy servants the prophets, saying, The land, unto which ye go to possess it, is an unclean land with the filthiness of the people of the lands, with their abominations, which have filled it from one end to another with their uncleanness. 12 Now therefore give not your daughters unto their sons, neither take their daughters unto your sons, nor seek their peace or their wealth for ever: that ye may be strong, and eat the good of the land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children for ever.
Ezra was confused and astonished at the news that God's people had intermarried with the Canaanites. How could this be? This was blatant disobedience to God's Word! This was the first step to idolatry and to the death of the knowledge of the true God. How could it happen? Moses had been very clear when he delivered God's word to the people:
Deuteronomy 7:3-4 Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son. 4 For they will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and destroy thee suddenly.
But many of the people had such a low regard for the word of God that they did not tremble at it. They did not know what God had said and if they did, they did not care.
A marriage with an unbeliever is prohibited by God. Our culture is guilty of this as well. Many young people have never been instructed in who they should look for in a spouse. Parents assume they will somehow make the right choice. God's great concern is that the unbeliever will lead the believer away from the worship of the true God. God wants us to hand down the true faith in God to the next generation and the next, and the next…
This is a word to parents. God told the parents not to give their sons and daughters to the people of the land of Canaan. Today parents must help to guide the lifelong commitments made by their children. This should start early as parents help them to see that two cannot walk together unless they be agreed (Amos 3:3). A believer marrying an unbeliever knowingly is blatantly ignoring God's word:
2 Corinthians 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
The promise of God to Israel was that if they would only marry true believers they would be strong, and eat the good of the land, and leave it for an inheritance to their children forever. If we are serious about leaving an inheritance to our children that lasts, we had better get serious about God's Word!
In Christ,
Rody
