Hosea 2:6-8 - She did not know

2:6,7

Israel’s way would be frustrated. God would deliberately intervene in order to stop her succeeding in finding her paths. Israel’s heart was set on finding her “lovers”, but she would not succeed. Then she would realise that she was better off with her “first husband”, ie God. This is the same plan that Paul speaks about in Romans 9-11, especially Romans 11. And it is noticeable there that it is the disobedient who receive mercy (Rom 11:28-32).

2:8

“She did not know ...” Israel did not realise that it was God who provided all things for her. Given the way things worked out in the journey through the wilderness this is somewhat amazing, but it is also very human. All humans by nature do not realise that it is God who provides us with our daily needs. Yet at the same time we seem to need to have some source to attribute things to. So Israel attributed this provision and their safety to Baal. Remember that in the wilderness when Moses went up the mountain they made the golden calf and attributed that with having got them out of Egypt (Ex 32:4). This was a demonstrably stupid thing to do, but it is what we humans are like.

The term “Baal” means master, and could refer to a whole range of “gods”, though certain regions had particular “Baals”.