Hosea 2:5Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

In contrast, those who succumb to the temptations of demons find their souls filled with various evils, straying from divine commandments and becoming agents of iniquity. These treacherous demons represent the passions of those who have surrendered to wickedness. Those who seek to appease them, as if they were deities, will inevitably engage in horrific sins, offering what they possess and frequently honoring them with praises, while forsaking the one true God. It is He who provides everything necessary for our lives, clothing us with grace as though it were attire, blessing our minds and hearts with supreme aid, anointing us with the oil of gladness, nourishing us with the spiritual bread that leads to everlasting life, and sustaining us with life-giving water for our spiritual well-being. However, the one who succumbs to evil, as exemplified by the wayward synagogue, follows his desires and offers gratitude to these entities, mistakenly believing that they provide him sustenance and garments. This sentiment aligns with the declaration, "I will pursue my desires, who provide me with my bread, and my water, and my garments, and my shrouds, and my oil, and all that they can give me." Yet, the wise, righteous, knowledgeable, and those who draw near to God attribute the bestowal and sharing of heavenly and earthly blessings solely to Him. They will wisely inquire, "Is there any nourishment in the idols of the nations that can rain down? Or can the heavens dispense their moisture? Are You not the Lord our God? Therefore, let us wait for You, Lord, for You have created all these things" (Jeremiah 14:22), and they shall exclaim alongside the divine psalmist: "You have visited the earth, You have watered it, You have greatly enriched it" (Psalm 64:10).

This warning is necessary to prevent anyone from believing that the teachings promoted by those who lead others astray are legitimate and rooted in truth—doctrines that mislead with false beliefs and contentious arguments. They should not consider these ideas to be valid or sound. Furthermore, it is stated, And she knew not that it was I who gave her grain, new wine, and oil, and multiplied her silver and gold, which they used to create the idol of Baal (Hosea 2:8).

She has become so brazen that she hears through Jeremiah: “You have the appearance of a harlot; you have discarded all modesty” (Jeremiah 3:3). Isn't it indicative of the obstinacy and shamelessness characteristic of harlots that she boasts of her transgressions and claims, “I will chase after my lovers, the idols that provide me food and clothing?” All that is articulated in the prophetic writings has been spiritually imparted to the Jews by the Lord. After rejecting the Son of God in favor of Barabbas, a man guilty of theft and rebellion (Luke 24:19; John 18:40), and crucifying Him, they continue to follow demonic influences, misattributing God’s blessings to those who have led their souls to ruin. The heretics possess their own form of sustenance, one that brings sorrow and defiles those who have been baptized. They also have wool from sheep that are unclean, and flax that remains perpetually stained, along with oil about which the prophet says, “Let not the oil of the wicked anoint my head” (Psalm 140:5), and they drink from the waters of Egypt. Concerning this, Jeremiah exclaims, “What does it matter to you about the way to Egypt, that you drink from the waters of Geon? And what about the way to Assyria, that you drink from the river’s waters?” (Jeremiah 2:18). We summarize this so as to proceed to the next points.

Thus, if it is not God's desire for even the least of these to be lost, could it not be seen as blasphemy to assert that His will is confined to saving only a few? Conversely, those who face destruction do so against God’s will; He continually pleads, “turn, turn from your wicked ways; for why should you die, O house of Israel?” (Ezekiel 33:11) and laments, “how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing” (Matthew 23:37). “What is the reason for this nation, Jerusalem, in constant rebellion? They cling to deceit and refuse to turn back” (Jeremiah 8:5). The grace of God draws near to everyone; it calls all people to salvation and enlightenment, saying, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). If grace were only to summon select individuals, it would imply that not everyone is tainted by original or actual sin, leading to the unjust conclusion that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23), or that “death has come to all men” (Romans 5:12). The evidence that those who perish do so contrary to God's desire is highlighted by the assertion that “God hath not created death, nor rejoiced in the destruction of them that live” (Wisdom 1:13). This is why our prayers may seem unanswered for extended periods or not at all when their fulfillment would not be in our best interest; at times, He allows adversities to befall us as a compassionate healer for our well-being. Frequently, He prevents our harmful aspirations from reaching fruition, redirecting us toward the path of salvation when we blindly seek our own demise, pulling us from the brink of destruction. The tender care and guidance of God are depicted by the prophet Hosea, who employs the metaphor of a wayward spouse who is drawn to false idols, and whom God obstructs, as she proclaims, “I will go after my lovers, who give me bread and water, wool and flax, oil and drink” (Hosea 2:5). In her desperation, she ultimately realizes, “I will go and return to my first husband; for it was better for me then than now” (Hosea 2:7). In another prophetic passage, our rebellion and refusal to respond to His redemptive summons are likened to a wife abandoning her spouse: “You shall call Me your father, and you shall not turn away from Me. But truly, as a woman treacherously betrays her friend, so treacherously have you dealt with Me, O house of Israel” (Jeremiah 3:19-20). God's unwavering love and faithfulness are presented through the imagery of a devoted husband rejected by his wife, whose affection is often intensified by her indifference. Such is the nature of God's love for humankind; our transgressions do not diminish His concern for our redemption; our failings do not deter Him from His steadfast purpose. He faithfully shields us and loves His creation to such an extent that His Providence not only follows us but also goes before us. The prophet who has felt this love affirms, “My God, who is gracious to me, will go before me” (Psalm 58:11). When He detects a spark of goodness in us, He immediately stirs it into action and nurtures it in every way possible, declaring, “Before they call, I will answer” (Isaiah 65:24). He inspires holy aspirations and orchestrates circumstances for their realization, guiding the lost toward the way of salvation.