Their deeds do not permit them to return to their God. For the spirit of whoredom is within them, and they do not know the Lord. Israel’s pride testifies against him; Ephraim stumbles in his guilt; Judah also stumbles with them. With their flocks and herds they shall go to seek the Lord, but they will not find him; he has withdrawn from them. They have dealt faithlessly with the Lord; for they have borne illegitimate children. Now the new moon shall devour them along with their fields. (Hosea 5:4-7)

Reconciliation with God is always possible, but it is not unconditional. A fundamental condition of reconciliation is to know God.

The Hebrew is yada. This is to reveal oneself and perceive the other. This is to have knowledge and to use it skillfully. This is to be intimate: physically and sensually entwined one with the other.

The priests and people of the Northern Kingdom no longer know God. How can we be joined with that we do not know... that we may refuse to even acknowledge?

The priests and people of Israel may, even in ignorance, set out to seek God. The Hebrew verb baqash can mean to search, desire, and ask. It is also to demand or exact. If the intent is to demand, they will not find.

Hosea explains that God has withdrawn (chalats). This is a verb entirely dependent on context.

In the psalms chalats is most often translated as delivered or rescued. In Psalm 50 we read, "Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I shall rescue (chalats) you."

In the book of Numbers the same verb most often means to arm with weapons. In Numbers 31 it is written, "Moses spoke to the people, saying, 'Arm (chalats) men from among you for war."

Is God ready to rescue or armed for war? It depends much on the intention we bring to seeking and knowing God.