How does the naming of the third child strike the final blow to Israel’s relationship with their Lord?

Hubbard says that the third name signals a total change in God’s relationship to Israel: the waywardness of the nation has effectively annulled the covenant.¹ God separates himself from—even divorces—Israel.² Israel could trace their existence, back to the promises God made to Abraham (Hosea 1:10; Genesis 15:5; Genesis 22:17; Genesis 32:12). But, here, in the second and especially the third child’s name, we are witnessing a damning reversal of the exodus events and covenant formula.³ For God took the nation to be his people (Exodus 6:6–7), and he revealed his covenantal name to them (Exodus 3:14).

In his judgment against their spiritual adultery, he threatens them with the removal of that mercy (Hosea 1:6), meaning Israel would no longer be God’s people (Hosea 1:9). The naming of the third child symbolizes nothing short of YHWH’s divorce or disowning of his people.⁴