Hosea 2:7Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

In the beginning - see v. 6 And she expressed, I shall go back and return to my first husband, for I was more gracious then than I am now. Here, the prophetic message continues to convey its chosen allegory, consistently depicting the unfaithful spouse. Consequently, it is stated that she will come to repentance, saying, I will return to my first husband: for I was kinder then than I am now. Observe how the Almighty, even in His anger, nurtures humanity and seeks their welfare in every possible manner, utilizing hardships to guide those who have strayed back to the path of truth and to lead them toward what is best.

He will harvest his desires, but they will not come to pass. Your mother Samaria, along with Jerusalem, will appeal to neighboring nations during their times of crisis, yet they will find no aid. She proclaimed, “I will return to my former husband,” referring to the God of my ancestors, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, because the deities I cherished, whom I believed cherished me in return, and the nations that revere them, have not provided assistance. They could not rescue themselves, and behold, they are captive in bondage. This is what your mother would express then, in her time of anguish, yet she remains silent now.

Indeed, I will encircle your path with thorns and create barriers along the way, so she will not discover her routes. She will pursue her lovers but will not catch up with them; she will seek them, but they will remain elusive. Then she will declare, I will return to my first husband, for I had it better then than I do now. The harlot proclaimed, I will pursue my lovers, who have bestowed upon me many gifts. The Lord responded, I will encircle your path with thorns or thistles so that you cannot wander wherever you wish, and I will enclose it with barriers so that you cannot find the paths you have trodden before.

He will seek them and will not find them, as it has been stated. He will remember the care of God for her and will declare: I will go back to my former spouse, for it was more tender to me then than it is now. Who, then, can fail to be amazed at the humanity of God? The Creator and Master refers to Himself as a husband rather than a sovereign. Since a wife's love for her husband surpasses that of a servant for her lord, He identifies Himself as a bridegroom and husband, encouraging people to draw nearer to Him. Yet, even this does not move the ungrateful to respond favorably. Thus, He speaks of them:

At times, God may delay responding to our prayers, or He may not respond at all, particularly when granting our requests could ultimately harm us. There are occasions when He allows hardships to occur against our wishes, acting as a compassionate healer for our ultimate benefit. Frequently, He thwarts our harmful intentions, and when we unwittingly pursue destruction, He guides us toward redemption and rescues us from the brink of perdition. In the book of Hosea, God illustrates His attentive care and protection through the metaphor of an unfaithful woman. He obstructs her path when she, with reckless fervor to serve false gods, proclaims: ‘I will follow my lovers, who give me bread and water, wool and flax, oil and drink’ (Hos. 2:5). As a result, when she cannot find her way to them, she regains her senses and declares: ‘I will go away, and return to my first husband; for it was better for me then than now’ (Hos. 2:7).

He will pursue his desires, yet will fail to grasp them; he will strive to attain them, but will not succeed, for the soul, in its quest to fulfill its cravings, will not encounter the wicked spirits to which it has capitulated. However, it is noted that there is a purpose in this distress, as it is stated: "I will go and return to my first husband, for I was kinder then than I am now." Faced with obstacles represented as thorns and unable to find satisfaction in his desires, she turns back to the love of her initial husband. This reflects a common experience; often when we cannot achieve what we yearn for in this life and are wearied by the futility of our pursuits, we begin to direct our hearts towards God, growing fond of the One we once disregarded.