Those who have sat through any class I have taught know one of my pet peeves about our understanding of prophets and prophecy. That is the understanding (or misunderstanding) that prophecy = fortune telling. If you read carefully, you’ll see that God never lays out the details of the future. In fact, many times there are warning about fortune tellers.
On the other hand, God is really good at noticing when His people have strayed from the path of living with Him and pointing out the consequences. The formula is “if you continue doing this, then that will happen to you.” And “that” is always bad. It was the job of the prophet to carry this message to the people.
And prophets were almost always kind of weird people. Take Hosea, whom I just discussed yesterday. God was unhappy that Israel (the people in that country) had take up with prostitutes (other gods). So he had Hosea marry a prostitute to show people the misery that comes with that situation.
Then at the end of the story of Hosea, God pleads with the Israelites to give up bad things and accept that which is good; give up the idea that salvation comes from Assyria and turn to Yahweh, their God. And He says that if they do, they will “flourish as a garden.” He says that their fruitfulness comes from Him. “Those who are wise understand these things.”
So yesterday I asked what prostitutes you have invited into your life (consciously or not). Today I invite you to step back and look at the direction your life is taking. If you continue doing what you’re doing, where will it lead? God says it’s never too late to turn to Him and discover the fruits of living a life with Him.
Faith Venture 
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