Contemplative Bible Reading

Ezra 9:2 (New Living Translation)

2 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.

Notice the second sentence: So the holy race has become polluted by these mixed marriages.

Whoa! Don’t repeat this in today’s world. First of all, many consider the concept of “race” to be racist and horrible. Scratch that word! Next, the race was polluted. Racial purity was polluted. Whoa! That is racist and horrible. Scratch that idea!. Finally, the pollution came from mixed marriages. What? Stopping people from marriage due to some horrible concept of race? Whoa! That is racist and horrible.

There must be something wrong with the translation here. The Bible is racist and horrible, right?

Let’s try this idea: this was written at a time and place for a specific group of people for a mission that God used them to fulfill. Through the power of God, they fulfilled that mission despite their disobedience.

And now we move to today. Is the concept of race “racist and horrible?” I’ll let the sociologist or those folks who discuss such things discuss such things. Let’s discuss Jesus Christ and the saving grace that comes through Jesus Christ. That grace overcomes any and all pollution I bring to this life. That grace is unending and all powerful.

Thank you God that I need not worry about my spiritual pollution and all the other things I do to pollute. Thank you God for Jesus Christ and saving grace.