My life’s story — all people’s stories — are but a reflection of God’s ultimate story.
In the front half of the Bible, there is the story of Hosea, a prophet who was used by God to reveal His message to the Israelites of the day. But God used Hosea not as a dicta-phone for sharing a verbal message, but as a “living metaphor” to represent God’s anger, love, and frustration. God orchestrated Hosea’s life as a physical representation of God’s message to the people at that time, naming Hosea’s children to represent their sinfulness and marrying Hosea to an adulterous wife who represented their action towards God. Through this story, Hosea’s relentless chase and forgiveness of his wife reveals God’s desire to pursue and forgive His chosen people.
I asked myself as I reflected on these readings: Am I prepared to turn my life over to God for Him to orchestrate my life as a metaphor for His love and grace? Even if it meant extreme pain, hurt, and betrayal, would I trust God for the sake of representing His Glory to a hurting world?
Too often, I am like King Azariah – I am able to avoid doing evil, yet I am unwilling to pursue God’s desires and radically follow His wildness.
What is God wanting to say through your life right now? For me, I think he as been telling:
- that He is in control of the outcomes of my obedience
- that He is willing and able to guide our lives and reveal paths of righteousness, risk, and love
- that He is trustworthy even in the scariest moments.
What is your life revealing about the story of God?
