Now they sin more and more, And have made themselves molten images of their silver, Even idols according to their own understanding, All of them the work of the craftsmen. They say of them, "They offer human sacrifice and kiss the calves."
The Bible says, "Righteousness exalts a nation; sin is a reproach to any people" ( Proverbs 14:34 ). When Ephraim was trembling... "He that humbles himself shall be exalted, but he who exalts himself shall be abased" ( Luke 14:11 ). How true it was with Ephraim. When they spoke trembling, God exalted them. But when they offended in their worship of Baal, they were destroyed.