Israel
Hosea is another of God’s prophets like Elisha. Today’s chapter is a poem that describes God’s feelings toward Israel when they disobey him. God had done everything to provide and care for them, but they rejected him. God is grieving the fact that he has no choice but to let them be defeated by Assyria.
How often do we ignore God and cause him grief? How often does God need to withhold blessings from us because we behave in ways he cannot honor?