Final answer:
Hosea 4:16 depicts the Lord allowing Israel to wander like a lamb in open country, symbolizing judgment for their disobedience and idolatry.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to Hosea 4:16, the Lord will let Israel wander like a lamb in open country, but He would not have mercy on them.
This is a metaphor indicating that, due to their disobedience and idolatry, the Israelites would be left to their own devices, much like a lamb that strays into dangerous territory without the protection of a shepherd. The verse serves as a warning and a statement of impending judgment due to the people's unfaithfulness.