Cursing Cursed Children: Mixed Messages

When the children of Israel left Egypt for the Promised Land, many Egyptians joined them, thus the term mixed multitude. Although the Israelites were forbidden to marry outside the fold, they intermarried with the Egyptians, the Moabites, and the Ammonites. Unfortunately, the mixed multitude was the cause of much strife, division, and disobedience in the camp. The Bible says many of them fell in the wilderness due to unbelief and the mixed multitude was partly to blame. Recently, Professor Bill Gates, noted for his research in genealogy revealed that our First Lady Michelle Obama was of mixed heritage. Her great-great grandfather says Gates, was white. His mixed heritage report resulted in mixed feelings due to the mixed message of jubilation - especially since most of the mixed relations during slavery were forced. Knowing we are all ethnically mixed to some degree how do we come to terms with the concept of God preserving Israel from intermarrying to preserve His Word. How do we then reconcile Ruth the Moabitess who is in the lineage of Jesus? And how do we reconcile the obvious heathen practices of former slave owners plundering and raping?