Book of Hosea Chapter 11 Vs. 2

 The Lord's Love for Israel

As they called them, so they went from them: they sacrificed unto Baalim, and burned incense to graven images. Hos. 11:2

As they called... Again, we have some reasons for the judgment upon Ephraim—idolatry and the failure to appreciate and serve God (Hos. 11:3-4). That is, the prophets of the Lord, the true prophets, called Israel to the worship and service of God. But they turned a deaf ear to them, and their backs upon them. And the more they called to them, the further they went from them, and from the way of their duty (see Hos. 11:7).

so they went... Israelite's, called and entreated, especially they of that age when the division was made, and ever since.

went from them... Contrarily and most disingenuously apostatized more and more, as the prophet, (Isa. 1:5). Horrible ingratitude so to requite God! From the prophets’ counsel and commands, delivered as they came from God.

they sacrificed unto... In the desert they began this apostasy, joined themselves to Baal-peor (Num. 25:3), and worshipped the calf (Exo. 32:4-6) and held on with obstinacy in it.

to graven images... Images of their gods, before which they performed another part of religious worship, burning incense before them.

It seemed, that even from the beginning, they would fall away and worship false gods. God would forgive them and start them again on the right path. It seemed; they could not handle good times. Each time they would fall away to worship other gods. It is a possibility that they began practicing the worship of false gods in Egypt, and never completely got rid of those bad habits. They were unfaithful from the beginning.

But we cannot be loved by God and left where we are. Beyond the grace there lie the long discipline and destiny. We are called from servitude to freedom, from the world of God-each of us to run a course, and do a work, which can be done by no one else. That Israel did not perceive this was God’s sore sorrow with them. "The more I called to them the farther they went from Me. They to the Ba’alim kept sacrificing, and to images offering incense.

However, when God subsequently called them (Hos. 11:2) to covenant obedience through His prophets, the people rejected Him (cf. Jer. 7:25-26) and turned instead to false gods (cf. 2Kgs. 17:13-17) including the Baals (cf. Hos. 2:13, 2:17). 11:2 is literally, the more they i.e., the prophets called them, the more they the Israelite's went from them and the Father. (NASB; cf. KJV, NIV marg.).