365 Days with God - Day 155: A Crummy Job

I'm giving myself a challenge. Read the Bible each day for a whole year, following the ESV Study Guide 1-year plan. Each day, I will post whatever God has revealed to me in His Word, and how it is changing me. A friend of mine once said that nothing has changed her life as much as reading the bible each day - and I'm excited for how this will change me. Join me on an adventure into the heart of God - and day by day, we can learn more about who He is and what that means to us!

- Andy Catts

Day 155, May 24, 2014

Readings: Proverbs 2, Deuteronomy 5, Hosea 1:1-11, Hosea 2:1, 2 Timothy 3:10-17, 2 Timothy 4:1-8

Old Testament prophets usually had a pretty crummy job.

They lived in caves, running for their lives. They faced death and hatred most of their lives. They were loved by some, but despised by many more. And they were only called out to cry to the people of Israel during times of great disobedience and dismay. Nobody wants to listen to the guy forecasting their doom. And in the case of some, they even lived their lives as an example of Israel's lack of faith.

When the LORD first spoke through Hosea, the LORD said to Hosea, "Go, take to yourself a wife of whoredom and have children of whoredom, for the land commits great whoredom by forsaking the LORD." So he went and took Gomer, the daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son. And the LORD said to him, "Call his name Jezreel, for in just a little while I will punish the house of Jehu for the blood of Jezreel, and I will put an end to the kingdom of the house of Israel. And on that day I will break the bow of Israel in the Valley of Jezreel." (Hosea 1:2-4)

I'm imagining that Hosea was a pretty stand-up guy. He was selected to be a prophet of God, after all. He was probably young. He was probably looking forward to setting up a life where he could quietly live out his faith, marry a good woman and teach his children. But God had other plans.

Hosea's plans, his best intentions, his godly desires (because there's nothing wrong with what he probably wanted) were thrown asunder by God. God desired that he live differently, and it wasn't an easy calling. Called to marry a prostitute. Called to prophecy to the very kings and people who would probably end his life. Called to suffer, again and again, as his wife and his people forsook their first love.

God does not call us all to a life of grandeur, of perfect lives and perfect families. He calls us to follow Him in whatever He asks - trusting that He has a greater purpose. Trusting that He will provide everything we need. God's heart is for His people - all of them. We are to be messengers of His word, no matter what it takes.