The people of Israel in Hosea’s time were unfaithful to God and the book of Hosea is filled with doom and gloom. God suffers when we are disobedient, but the scriptures from Hosea gives examples of God’s love and shows us what forgiveness and restoration in close relationships look like.
When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son The more I called them, the further they went from me…My people are bent on turning away from me; and though they cry out to the Most High, he will not raise them up…My heart winces within me; my compassion grows warm and tender… I won’t return to destroy Ephraim; for I am God and not a human being, the holy one in your midst, I won’t come in harsh judgment. Hosea 11:1-9