Hosea’s warnings and a promise: Hosea 9−14

Hosea started his ministry when Jeroboam II was king of Israel/Samaria and Uzziah was king of Judah. He continued for about 50 years, until the time of Hezekiah. It’s been suggested that Hosea fled to Judah during or shortly after Jeroboam’s reign, and so he acknowledged only the Judean kings.

Most of Hosea’s words bring nothing but doom on Israel:

^{Hosea 11:6-7} War will swirl through their cities;
their enemies will crash through their gates.
They will destroy them, trapping them in their own evil plans.
For my people are determined to desert me.
They call me the Most High, but they don’t truly honor me.

The path Israel chose brought some grief to God:

^{Hosea 11:8}Oh, how can I give you up, Israel? How can I let you go?
How can I destroy you like Admah or demolish you like Zeboiim?
My heart is torn within me, and my compassion overflows.

And again there was the prospect of redemption:

^{Hosea 11:9} No, I will not unleash my fierce anger.
I will not completely destroy Israel, for I am God and not a mere mortal.
I am the Holy One living among you, and I will not come to destroy.
For someday the people will follow me.
I, the Lord, will roar like a lion.
And when I roar, my people will return trembling from the west.
Like a flock of birds, they will come from Egypt.
Trembling like doves, they will return from Egypt.
And I will bring them home again,” says the Lord.