For she did not know That I gave her grain, new wine, and oil, And multiplied her silver and gold—Which they prepared for Baal. "Therefore I will return and take away My grain in its time… I will punish her For the days of the Baals to which she burned incense. She decked herself with her earrings and jewelry, And went after her lovers; But Me she forgot," says the LORD.
Hosea 2:8-9a &13

When we stray away from the Lord, He continues to love us and care for us. When we look to the world and the flesh for satisfaction and enjoyment, even then our Father meets all our needs and more. Like Hosea’s unfaithful wife, we look to other “lovers” for satisfaction, and when we do not meet disaster, we, like her, are apt to think that our new interests and pursuits are delivering the goods. But even then, it is God who looks after His beloved—even when we seek pleasure in the arms of another.

In this passage, after 150 years of Israel’s spiritual adultery, God’s patience is exhausted. He is now writing Israel a bill of divorcement and plans to withdraw His support of her for her unfaithfulness. He promised to take her back at a later date, and He did.

Lessons? God is loving and patient. He meets my needs even when I am unfaithful to Him. Am I in a position therefore to “live it up” since His love is undying? Only if I am a fool and fail to understand His grace.