God is looking back, remembering the days when He first found Israel. You can almost hear His delight and tenderness: ″When I found Israel, it was like finding grapes in the desert″ (Hosea 9:10). Then the grim reality: ″But when they came to Baal Peor, they consecrated themselves to that shameful idol and became as vile as the thing they loved.″

Numbers 25 relates the story of how the Israelite soldiers were enticed by Moabite women into having sex at the local Baal shrine. First love quickly evaporated, and the grapes turned sour. And now, in Hosea's day, it was happening all over again.

No wonder God's patience has run out. Time and again He had forgiven Israel and warned her, but still she persisted in her unfaithfulness. Now, terrible punishment is due. Her glory (God himself) will fly away (″when I turn away from them″, v. 12), she will become infertile (ironic, because Baal was supposed to be a fertility god), and war will come to her (vv. 12-13), which will again lead to the death of her children.

As Hosea realises the horror of what God has in store for Israel, he tries to pray (v. 14). He knows that things have gone too far and that sin must be punished, but he longs for Israel's punishment to be softened. So he prays for her children to never come into existence, so they wouldn't have to suffer such a horrid future.

God's passion is revealed in verses 15-17. Gilgal, the centre of Baal worship, represented the two-timing attitude of the nation, and God hated it. Of Israel, He now says, ″I will no longer love them″ (v. 15), and they will become ″wanderers among the nations″ (v. 17). They would still be His people but, for a while, God was going to have to use shock treatment and withdraw His affection.

Let these red hot words sink deep into your heart. When God loves, He loves with intensity and for keeps. Like Israel, we can offend, grieve, and disappoint Him. If we abandon Him as our first love and continue to cheat on Him, God will say to us: ″Do not rejoice!″ (v. 1).

Heavenly Father, thank you for your passionate love towards me. Help me never to take that love for granted, and may you always be my first love. In Jesus' name, amen.