MOSES' MARRIAGE A.

MOSES MARRIED A BLACK WOMAN The one incident of interracial m

arriage that is fully dealt with in the Bib le shows God backing up the individu
als who entered into that marriage. Before we read the passage, let me repeat th
at I am not advocating what some people .call "mongrelization." (Let people who
use this term beware for they wi ll one day be judged by Him who humbles the pro
ud and hates respect of persons.) Interracial marriage in our society is difficu
lt; and it is not wise, therefore , to enter into it. But it is not a sin for on
e Christian to marry another witho ut regard to nationality. In spite of social
pressure, there are a great many pl aces in the world where interracial marriage
s can and do work. Men could do God' s work under such conditions in New York Ci
ty, London, Jamaica, South America, t he Near East, and other places right here
in the Western Hemisphere. Any Christi an who contemplates interracial marriage
should accept as a foregone conclusion that he will serve the Lord in such an ar
ea. Some of my brethren are of mixed ra cial origin. They are not sinning in mar
rying. Their parents have not sinned, be cause "marriage is honorable in all and
the bed is undefiled." (Hebrews 13:1) Let us now examine the passage of scriptu
re. "And Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite (negro) wom
an whom he had married, for he had married an Ethiopian [ "cushith" ] (black ) w
oman. And they said, Has the LORD spoken only by Moses? Has he not also spoke n
by us? And the Lord heard it. Now the man Moses was very meek...And the LORD s p
oke suddenly to Moses and to Aaron and to Miriam, Come out ye three to the tabe
rnacle of the congregation. And they three came out. And the LORD came down in t
he pillar of the cloud and stood in the door of the tabernacle of the congregat
i on... and He said, Wherefore were you not afraid to speak against my servant M
os es? And the anger of the LORD was kindled against them. And the cloud departe
d.. .and behold Miriam became leprous, white as snow...And Aaron said, Alas my l
ord. ..lay not the sin upon us wherein we have done FOOLISHLY and wherein we hav
e SIN NED." (Numbers 12:1ff) The narrative continues with Moses' appeal to God i
n behalf of Miriam. God s ays, "If her .father had but spit in her face she woul
d be shut out of the camp seven days." So they shut her out seven days. Some Ini
tial Conclusions These observations are obtained:: Moses married an Ethiopian wo
man. (Interra cial .marriage) He was criticized for marrying a Cushite woman. (P
rejudice) His authority was called in question because he married a black woman.
(Rebellion) G od intervened and took Moses' part. Moses had not sinned. Aaron s
aid, "We have d one foolishly. We have sinned." God has a sense of humor. Can yo
u see it? If whi te is so good I will make you white, as white as snow! As lepro
us as snow! God s ettled the problem of authority in this case that was brought
up because THEY fe lt that anyone IGNORANT enough to marry a NEGRO was a poor le
ader. God showed th at Miriam and Aaron were wrong. Moses had not sinned in marr
ying. More on Zipporah, Moses' Wife (Nu 12:1) And Miriam and Aaron spake against
Moses because of the Ethiop ian woman whom he had married: for he had married a
n Ethiopian woman. The Hebrew says, And Miriam spoke, using a feminine singular
verb, ["tedaber," ] indicatin g Miriam's leadership in this opposition. Aaron wa
s an easily led, willing, but weak minded participant, as is his position in oth
er events, hence the punishmen t was inflicted on Miriam alone.