Crosspoint

This is Gods message to Hosea son of Beeri. It came to him during the royal reigns of [all these kings]. The first time God spoke to Hosea he said: Find a whore and marry her. Make this whore the mother of your children. And heres why: This whole country has become a whorehouse, unfaithful to me, God.

(Hosea 1:1-2 The Message)

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I can just imagine it. Hosea is sitting there as a young man when this command is given. I know he's a young man (probably in his late teens) when he's told this for two reasons: 1) he's not married yet and 2)this command is given at the beginning of his very lengthy prophetic ministry.

So there he is. It's the end of a youth worship service, an altar call has been given, and he's up there with a few dozen other good Jewish boys singing out, "I'll go where you want me to go, dear Lord. I'll do what you want me to do."

And he hears a voice, "Really? That's great."

Pause. "Ummm, OK what was that?"

"You said you'll go and do whatever I want. I said, that's great."

"Well, I was just, you know, singing along."

"So you won't obey me?"

"No, I didn't mean that. I will... I just wasn't thinking about it."

"So are you going and doing what I tell you or not?"

"Of course I am. You're my Lord."

"Great, down on the corner of First and Main there's a young lady who hangs out every night. I want you to go and propose to her."

"But, God... she's... ummm, well... you see"

"Yes I see. And I love her. And I want you to show her my love by loving her too. And while you're at it, she's going to be an example of what you, my church is to me. Even though, I've pulled you from the gutter, cleaned you up, and gave you my love, my home, and my name, you have been unfaithful to me. In the same way she's going to sleep around on you."

"You mean you want me to go propose to a hooker knowing in advance she's going to cheat on me? God, it's my senior year here. I'm the president of the youth group and I'm gonna be starting Torah college next month. I've got my respectability to maintain. How can I ever be a respectable rabbi married to her?"

"Trust me."

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Trust me. Those are very dangerous words coming from God. Were I in Hosea's shoes... would I? It's so easy in my self righteousness to say yes. But would I really? I think not. After all, I think the reason God hasn't asked me to do any really wild and crazy things like this (or this: www.davethehornguy.com) is because I, so often, haven't been obedient in the smaller things he has asked of me. I've run away from the lions and bears so many times he doesn't yet trust me with Goliath.

So what is God asking of me now? In what areas is God speaking of me? He's asked me for more of my time. He's asked me to be more disciplined with my money. He's asked me to set up a meeting with a man who needs to know I have forgiven him. Does the fact that I haven't done it yet mean I haven't truly forgiven? Or is it the fact I also need to humble myself and apologize.

I have spent quite a lot of time asking questions about revelation and what it means to me. How can I know when God speaks to me? I've danced around a few various answers. But the question I am proposing now is what do I do when God does speak? After all, if hearing Him speak means having to go marry a prostitute, do I really want to listen?