No, God did not used to be the idol Baal. The Bible makes a clear distinction between the Lord (Yahweh) and any idols, including Baal. Baal was a god worshipped by various peoples in the ancient Near East, particularly among the Canaanites. This deity was often associated with fertility, weather, and storms, and was worshipped through practices that were abominable to the God of Israel.

The contrast in Hosea 2:16, where God says, “thou shalt call me Ishi; and shalt call me no more Baali,” is metaphorical rather than literal. It is not suggesting that God was once Baal or that He changed in nature. Instead, it’s highlighting a shift in the nature of the relationship between God and His people. God is drawing a distinction between the false worship of idols, like Baal, and the true, loving, and faithful relationship He desires with His people. The use of “Baali” here is symbolic, pointing to how the Israelites had been unfaithful by blending pagan practices with their worship of the one true God, thus treating Him as if He were just another deity like Baal.

The Bible consistently emphasizes the uniqueness and sovereignty of God, making it clear that He is distinct from and superior to all idols. For example, Isaiah 45:5 states, “I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me.” This and many other verses throughout the Scriptures affirm that the Lord is the only true God, fundamentally different from and opposed to all false gods and idols, including Baal.

In Hosea 2:16, it is written, “And it shall be, in that day, saith the LORD, that thou shalt call me Ishi; and shalt call me no more Baali.” This verse is a part of God’s promise to restore Israel, not merely in a national or material sense, but in a deeply relational and spiritual sense.

The terms “Ishi” and “Baali” both mean “my husband” in Hebrew, but they carry different connotations. “Ishi” comes from a word that implies a relationship of respect, love, and affection, akin to a loving, equitable marriage. On the other hand, “Baali” comes from “Baal,” a term that means “lord” or “master” and was also the name of a Canaanite god. This term could imply ownership and control, reflecting a more transactional and hierarchical relationship.

In saying that Israel will call God “Ishi” and not “Baali,” the Lord is expressing a desire for a relationship based on love, respect, and faithfulness, rather than one based on fear, domination, or mere ritual obligation. It’s a deeply symbolic way of saying that God wants his people to relate to Him in a covenant of love, much like a marriage, rather than seeing Him as a distant or demanding master.

This verse is part of a larger theme in Hosea and the Bible of God’s desire for a genuine, loving relationship with His people, where they are faithful to Him not out of fear or compulsion, but out of love and devotion. It highlights God’s mercy, love, and the hope of restoration despite the people’s unfaithfulness.