Some songs prayerfully express absolute dependence on the Lord: “I need thee every hour.” Yet, the song could be empty words like Ephraim. There is a scary phrase in the Bible that warns about abandonment. God rejected Israel, and He ‘let him alone’ to be independent of God. (Hosea 4:17)
Stubborn calf: Ephraim was the largest tribe in Israel. Hence, the prophecy for Ephraim is for the whole nation of Israel. Hosea states that Israel behaves like a stubborn calf, going astray, breaking bonds and boundaries. Hence, stubborn, rebellious, and disobedient Israel cannot claim protection like a lamb. An obedient lamb has the shepherd, who protects it, even when it is in the open country. (Hosea 4:16)
Joined the idols: Repeatedly, the Nation of Israel abandoned Jehovah and chose idols. Since His chosen people left him, He will also leave them. They chose the foreign gods, and God will give them up to foreigners, who will oppress them.
Judgement: God let him alone. The Assyrians will come to attack them; they have to fight for themselves. God will neither fight for them nor give them protection. Pharaoh hardened his heart first, disobeying God’s command and refusing to listen to His servants Moses and Aaron. (Exodus 8:15,32; 9:34) Later, God hardened the heart of Pharaoh. (Exodus 10:20,27) Like Pharaoh, such a person loses their capacity to repent. As Pharaoh fought against God until he perished, drowned in the Red Sea, many would be fighting against God and perish.
Protection: Believers are dependent on God every moment. Because Satan is hyper-alert and actively seeking ways, means, and opportunities to attack the people of God. Satan took permission to attack Peter. But Peter was not abandoned; the savior prayed for him. Hence, he emerged victorious. (Luke 22:31-32)
Sin and self: When a person is abandoned by God, that person becomes self-destructive. Without the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the teaching of the Word, a person falls into the miry clay pit of sin, depression, doubt, danger, and death.
Am I a stubborn calf or an obedient sheep?