There is nothing in the Bible that forbids interracial marriage. There is much about marriage outside of your faith (this was the reason for forbidding intermarriage with the Canaanites). The prohibition against marriage outside the Jewish community has been used to justify a prohibition on Inter-racial marriage. Again I say, the Bible doesn't forbid it. Looking at this scripture it seems clear to me that God isn't happy with someone who might complain about interracial marriage.
Aaron and Miriam seem to be upset that Moses didn't talk with them before he got married to this Ethiopian woman. They thought since God had spoken to them they had a right to be able to speak against Moses.
God, however, wasn't pleased and caused leprosy to come upon Miriam. We can only guess why Aaron was spared, by seeing what had happened to Miriam he knew he was in trouble. Aaron did respond the right way by saying they had done foolishly. There was no pointing fingers or blaming anyone else, he said they did it.
God's response to Moses' prayer for healing is also interesting. God said if her father had spit in her face she would have felt shame for at least a week (it would have probably been longer, but God was gracious), this being the case she would have to stay without the camp for that week. I wonder if this was in response to how long her words wounded Moses.
The punishment was harsh, but when you considered after the week was over it was like she never was ill, maybe it wasn't.
What does this mean to us? First, God doesn't
appreciate someone complaining because someone has an inter-racial marriage.
The second, just because God has used you in the past doesn't give you license
to speak against God's leader.
Num 12:1-16
(1) And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman.
(2) And they said, Hath the LORD indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us? And the LORD heard it.
(3) (Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)
(4) And the LORD spake suddenly unto Moses, and unto Aaron, and unto Miriam, Come out ye three unto the tabernacle of the congregation. And they three came out.
(5) And the LORD came down in the pillar of the cloud, and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam: and they both came forth.
(6) And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream.
(7) My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house.
(8) With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?
(9) And the anger of the LORD was kindled against them; and he departed.
(10) And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle; and, behold, Miriam became leprous, white as snow: and Aaron looked upon Miriam, and, behold, she was leprous.
(11) And Aaron said unto Moses, Alas, my lord, I beseech thee, lay not the sin upon us, wherein we have done foolishly, and wherein we have sinned.
(12) Let her not be as one dead, of whom the flesh is half consumed when he cometh out of his mother's womb.
(13) And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, Heal her now, O God, I beseech thee.
(14) And the LORD said unto Moses, If her father had but spit in her face, should she not be ashamed seven days? let her be shut out from the camp seven days, and after that let her be received in again.
(15) And Miriam was shut out from the camp seven days: and the people journeyed not till Miriam was brought in again.
(16) And afterward the people removed from Hazeroth, and pitched in the wilderness of Paran.
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