What surprises us again about God in this Bible book?
Hosea 11:8–9 (ESV)
8How can I give you up, O Ephraim? How can I hand you over, O Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I treat you like Zeboiim? My heart recoils within me; my compassion grows warm and tender.
The surprise is that this exile is not the end of the relationship between God and his people. Out of his deep love, God cannot resist to continue with his people.
8 How can I give you up, O Ephraim? How can I hand you over, O Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I treat you like Zeboiim? My heart recoils within me; my compassion grows warm and tender.