Why did Hosea (1:2), Isaiah (32:11), Micah (1:8), and Ezekiel (23:21) possess disreputable characters and use unholy language to their listeners?

Neither Hosea, nor Isaiah, nor Micah or Ezekiel ever had “disreputable characters.”  Nor did they ever use unholy language!!!   This is an absolutely unjustified charge, and anyone saying this either is being dishonest, or, more charitably do not understand the context of the lives of these prophets.

Hosea, in obedience to God, out of humility and submission to God, took a wife who would later be unfaithful to him.  How is this a mark on his character?  This does not even make sense.  The fact is that his wife Gomer later became unfaithful to him, even becoming a prostitute, but the loving Hosea loved her, went to her, and bought her back as a most beautiful illustration of how God loves us even when we have been unfaithful to him.  This is the story of Hosea 1-3.  Please read it for yourself, and you will know immediately that this charge is totally unfounded and is indeed at attempt by disingenuous people to destroy the character of the prophet Hosea.

In Isaiah 32:11 Isaiah is calling unfaithful women to change their fine clothes for rags as a means to show their repentance.  On what world is this either disreputable or unholy language?  I am confused.  Who came up with this charge!!! God has always called his people to repentance, and to show their repentance by their deeds, which is what Isaiah is doing in this passage.

In Micah 1:8 the prophet is telling God’s people that he is in deep mourning for the sin of his people.  He is so deeply troubled by the sin of the people that he is weeping and wailing.  He is so sorrowful, that he is even willing to go about barefoot as a sign of his sorrow and repentance.  If it came to it, he would even be willing to walk around naked (or much more likely nearly naked— with his underclothes on) in order to show his concern for the sin of the people.  And then Muslim critics like those you have read have the nerve to call the prophet out for his humble call from God to his people to repent.  The one who should repent is the disingenuous person who made this charge against God’s prophet!

Nearly the same can be said of Ezekiel 23:21.  Here the prophet is calling for God’s people to repent because they were returning to the sinful practices they had done while in Egypt.  He metaphorically refers to how the Egyptians abused the Israelites in Egypt, and how they committed spiritual adultery with the Egyptians.  This is clearly a metaphor, as any honest person would admit up front.  Again, the charge is totally unjustified, as any honest reading of the text would show.  I believe that these charges only hold up with people who do not even bother to read the texts that are referred to.  It is dishonorable for people to make these false charges.  I suggest you stop listening to the people who are putting these lies out there.  That is my advice.

John Oakes