When Intermarriage is Wrong

“’You shall not intermarry with them, nor they with you. Surely they will turn away your hearts after their gods.’ Solomon clung to these in love.”  (1 Kings 11:2)

                When you read the term “intermarriage” what comes to mind?  In our culture, most people would probably think about a person of one race marrying a person of a different race.  You might be surprised to know that interracial marriage was not legalized throughout the entire United States until 1967.  At that time, only 3% of Americans were involved in an interracial marriage.  As of 2015, that percentage had risen to 17% - nearly a 500% increase in just 50 years.

                Since the civil rights movement of the 60’s, some people – especially Southerners – have had a difficult time accepting mixed-race marriages.  Perhaps you’ve never heard that Miriam had the same problem when her brother (Moses) married an Ethiopian woman (Num. 12).  God judged Miriam for her opposition by striking her with leprosy.  Moses interceded on her behalf and God mercifully removed her leprosy after only 7 days.  That said, there is no biblical reason that two people of different races can’t have a relationship with one another.

                And yet, there is a time when intermarriage – or “inter-relationships” – are wrong.  Not when they involve two people of different races, but when they involve two people who serve a different God/gods.  God strictly commanded his people not to intermarry the natives of the Promised Land – not because they were a different color, but because they served different gods.  That said, the person you marry/date doesn’t have to be the same race, but they must serve the same God (2 Cor. 6:14).  Anything else is sin, and sadly Solomon found out the hard way.