Final answer:
Hosea 4:12 criticizes the Israelites for seeking counsel from wooden idols, a practice contrary to God's commandment that forbids idol worship as depicted in Exodus 20:4-5. This action violates the exclusive devotion to God mandated in the Old Testament.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to Hosea 4:12, "My people ask counsel at their wooden idols," describes the Israelites seeking guidance from their idols, which is seen as a transgression against the commandments of God. In the broader context of Biblical teachings, such as in Exodus 20:4-5, the creation and worship of idols, depicted as anything in heaven, on earth, or in the waters, is strictly prohibited. This commandment is highlighted as idols are believed not to hold divine power or wisdom, and the act of worshipping them represents a betrayal of the one true God who delivered the Israelites from bondage and commanded them to worship him exclusively.
The historical context also alludes to the earlier Canaanite polytheistic traditions from which the Israelites were supposed to have departed. The presence of the golden calf, as described in the Old Testament, signifies a lapse into idolatry reminiscent of Egyptian practices, which Moses strongly condemned upon his return from Mt. Sinai.