Book of Hosea Chapter 13 Vs. 5

 The Lord's Relentless Judgment on Israel

I did know thee in the wilderness, in the land of great drought. Hos. 13:5

I did know... Not only did God know Ephraim in the wilderness—He knew all the other tribes as well. They also knew Him, as is clear from the many records of their salvation and blessing from Him. God so knew them, as to deserve to be known by them. By knowing them, He showed how He ought to be acknowledged by them. As we love God, because He first loved us, so we come to know and own God, having first been owned and known of Him. God showed His knowledge of them, by knowing and providing for their needs.

in the wilderness... Where the land yielded neither food nor water. He supplied them with the bread from heaven and with water from the flinty rock. He knew and owned them all by His providence; He knew in approbation and love, and fed in body and soul those who, having been known by Him, knew and owned Him. This applies to us very much today.

God had protected them from the famine. He had caused water to come from the Rock to take care of their thirst. They should recognize His goodness and be faithful to Him. As we should be today

He led them from Egypt (cf. Hos. 11:1; 12:9, 12:13), cared for lit., knew them in the wilderness (Hos. 13:5) and allowed them to feed in the Promised Land (Hos. 13:6). When I fed them is literally, when they pastured. It describes sheep or cattle grazing peacefully. As we do in our homelands.

And I was thy God from the land of Egypt; and god besides Me thou knowest not, nor savior has there been any but Myself. I shepherded thee in the wilderness, in the land of droughts"-long before they came among the gods of fertile Canaan.

Again, once more the Lord reminded Israel of His gracious deeds at the beginning of their history (cf. Hos. 12:9, 12:10, 12:12-13). He led them from Egypt (cf. Hos. 11:1; 12:9, 12:13), cared for lit., knew them in the wilderness (Hos. 13:5).