“The Israelites are stubborn, like a stubborn heifer. How then can the LORD pasture them like lambs in a meadow?  Ephraim is joined to idols; leave him alone!”  Hosea 4:16-17 (NIV).  Idols are never far away in any generation.  They destroy the relationship of lambs to their Lord.  An idol is anything that keeps you from totaling trusting the Lord as your Shepherd.  An idol is a fake life center.  God’s judgment is to leave us to our choices