God's Demands: Fantasy

The chant of calling began, and she felt it pull her towards the altar of the true god. She knew what took place there. A demand would be issued, probably beyond the bounds of reason or probability. Every person felt the call at least once in their lives, some more often. The demand would be harsh and difficult or heartbreaking. One man had been asked to kill his own son. The god had reached out his hand at the last minute to prevent this from occurring, but he might not have. On another occasion, a merchant on a successful journey had been asked to sacrifice the first thing that greeted him on his return. It was his daughter, and nothing had stayed his hand. The broken merchant now wandered through the world telling his tale of woe and warning others to beware the price of success. It was the god's way. Some were sent on quests, some given trials, some told simply that their child would be a great--

Inspiration: Matisyahu
Story Potential: High.
Notes: This would work well as a premise for a series of linked stories, I think. It needs some extra element to make it pop, though.