Scarlet Letters

Ezra 6-10

When Ezra realized how the Israelites, including their leaders, had polluted the Jewish race by intermarrying with natives, he tore his clothes and begged God's forgiveness... then called all of the Israelites together to find out how extensive the sin was. They conducted a survey of all people to determine who had sinned and then named each one in scriptures for all time and all people to see... the ultimate scarlet letter. The punishment for each... to divorce their wives and children. A heavy price to pay, but the Lord demands that we be willing to sacrifice everything to follow him, obey him, love him.