Where the rubber meets the road, part IV

Today's post is a follow up to the post about separation from the neighbors in the lands around Jerusalem . . .
Remember that admonition against the "unequal yoke" of oxen and donkey in Deuteronomy?  Here is our verse for today:

We promise not to give our daughters in marriage to the peoples around us or take their daughters for our sons. (Nehemiah 10:30)

Now that's just harsh, isn't it?
Well, no.
It's not racist, as people might think today. It's not discriminatory. It's not mean.
There was an excellent reason for it.
(God had warned Israel of this danger when they first entered the land of Canaan, long ago!)  The people who lived around them were unusually degenerate. They practiced public lewdness and sexual sins. They were afflicted with sexually transmitted diseases. They slaughtered their children by throwing them alive into the fire in their worship of the idol, Molech. In order to protect the Israelites from these dangerous practices, God told them not to intermarry with these peoples. They might not have sat down and analyzed it, but if they had, they would have realized that it would introduce into Israel attitudes and beliefs that would ultimately undermine their faith and cause sin. In fact, it would even destroy their nation as they knew it.
It's true! It happened! Even though Solomon was said to be the wisest man ever, he nevertheless married a whole slew of foreign women who brought their gods and worship with them. These practices were introduced into the worship of Israel. By the time that Solomon's son came to the throne, the nation was so divided by the results of these pagan practices that they could no longer exist as one - they separated into two nations.
So the people applied the truth of God's Word to their homes: they committed to not intermarry with the peoples of the land. They vowed they would not allow their children to intermarry with those who held to different (or no) faiths. Yes, I know there are instances where God has used a believing spouse to lead an unbelieving spouse to salvation; but this is a command from God -- because the temptation of marriage with unbelievers has been a long-time tool in Satan's tool kit.
If we believers don't pay attention to this common sense instruction (see II Corinthians 6) we are inviting conflict in the home.

Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? 15 What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? (II Corinthians 6:14-15)

An unbeliever will not encourage a Christian mate to pursue God. He or she will not share our commitment to instill the knowledge of God in our children. An unbeliever will not seek first the kingdom of God. The children will not have a consistent, loving guidance in the pathway of God's standards for our lives.
Now, there's no guarantee that if two Christians marry there will be roses around the door and happy music always playing. (Grin) It doesn't mean there will be constant bliss, because there are many other principles involved -- but it is more likely to happen, since there are concepts and practices in the Word that can make for a happy marriage!  If we disobey the command, there are passages in the Word designed to help us, because God is both merciful and practical. There are guidelines to help handle those situations.
For the most part, this is practical wisdom that needs to be considered and followed today. Faith is the basis for how we view and live our lives. We need to make sure that we apply God's truth in our homes.
More practical applications of Nehemiah 10 next time!