According to a recent news report, one in five Singaporean marriages in 2017 were inter-ethnic. These mixed marriages were often inter-religious unions as well. The report highlights how parents generally expect their children to fall in love and marry people of their own race. Though mixed-race relationships are more common nowadays, such couples say that they still get strange looks in public and often face parental objections. Society is still not fully accepting of inter-racial marriages.

Once, I was asked to teach the gospel of Matthew to a Bible study group. I was given a lesson plan that began at Matthew 1:18; the first 17 verses were excluded. When asked about the omission, the organiser told me that there was nothing for me to teach since this passage is taken up by a long list of unfamiliar names. He didn’t want me to bore the class with the lengthy genealogy.

My wife knew her days were numbered. The prognosis for her late-stage cancer gave her “a few months” at best. She was prepared to meet her Lord. One night, I asked her what was the one thing she wished she could do before she left. She said, “I want to carry my grandchild”. Soon thereafter, she went home to her Father’s house. Her wish remained unfulfilled.

Finding Your Roots is an American TV series that examines the family histories of well-known celebrities with mixed ancestry. One featured celebrity guest, embarrassed to discover how one of his ancestors was a slave owner, admitted that “the very thought left a bad taste in my mouth”. Would Boaz, I wonder, be similarly embarrassed by his mixed lineage?