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Astrology and Horoscopes
Consulting horoscopes and astrologers seems to be growing in popularity today. Witness, for example, the countless commercials on television advertising psychic hotlines. Most of the time, people visit psychics, palm readers or consult horoscopes to find direction for their lives, to try and determine what the future holds, and to seek guidance in relationships, finances, and other matters. In God's earliest dealings with Israel, God tried to get them to not worry about the future, and to trust Him fully for daily guidance. When God would give manna from Heaven to the people, any they tried to collect and store away would rot. God was saying, "Trust Me to supply your daily needs. Don't worry about tomorrow, for I will meet your needs then as well."
Jesus echoed this teaching in His words found in Luke 12:28-32: "If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith? And seek not what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. But rather seek ye first the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." Jesus instructs us to not doubt and to not fear. Fear and doubt drive people to seek guidance from astrologers and psychics, but it should only drive the Christian to his knees to seek guidance from the Lord, for only He truly knows what tomorrow holds.
King Saul
Even though King Saul had put away all of the wizards and sorcerers from the land of Israel as God commanded, his fear and terror upon seeing the armies of the Philistines drove him to seek a woman who had a familiar spirit, going at night in disguise (1 Samuel 28:3-11). Israel's armies were routed by the Philistines, and Saul in his despair killed himself by falling upon his sword. Though Saul killed his own self, this was actually God's judgment against him, for the Scriptures state that "Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the Lord, even against the word of the Lord, which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to enquire of it." (1 Chronicles 10:13).
Even though Saul sought advice from the prophet Samuel through the woman with the familiar spirit, it still was evil in the sight of the Lord. When God declares something to be evil, we cannot use it for good and expect God to overlook it. Likewise, there is no such thing as a "good" witch, or one who uses his or her power for good. Though the woman used her power to summon the prophet Samuel, Saul was still judged by God and died because of his transgression. The practice of consulting with a witch, charmer, one who communicates with the dead, or one with a familiar spirit was expressly and clearly forbidden by God in His laws given to Moses. God instructed the people, "When thou art come into the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord: and because of these abominations the Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee."
God then tells the people that He will raise up a Prophet from their midst, and it is Him you should listen to. "For these nations, which thou shalt possess, hearkened unto observers of times, and unto diviners: but as for thee, the Lord thy God hath not suffered thee so to do. The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken."
Matthew Henry said in his commentary, "It is here promised concerning Christ, that there should come a Prophet, great above all the prophets; by whom God would make known himself and his will to the children of men, more fully and clearly than he had ever done before. He is the Light of the world, (Joh 8:12). He is the Word by whom God speaks to us, (Joh 1:1; Heb 1:2). In his birth he should be one of their nation. In his resurrection he should be raised up at Jerusalem, and from thence his doctrine should go forth to all the world. Thus God, having raised up his Son Christ Jesus, sent him to bless us. He should be like unto Moses, only above him. This prophet is come, even Jesus; and is "He that should come," and we are to look for no other. The view of God which he gives, will not terrify or overwhelm, but encourages us. He speaks with fatherly affection and Divine authority united. Whoever refuses to listen to Jesus Christ, shall find it is at his peril; the same that is the Prophet is to be his Judge, (John 12:48). Woe then to those who refuse to hearken to His voice, to accept His salvation, or yield obedience to His sway! But happy are they who trust in Him, and obey Him. He will lead them in the paths of safety and peace, until He brings them to the land of perfect light, purity, and happiness. Here is a caution against false prophets. It highly concerns us to have a right touchstone wherewith to try the word we hear, that we may know what that word is which the Lord has not spoken. Whatever is against the plain sense of the written word, or which gives countenance or encouragement to sin, we may be sure is not that which the Lord has spoken."
God, in His judgment of Israel, permitted Babylon to defeat and storm the nation, taking the Israelites captive. But because the Babylonians were so ruthless in their treatment of the people of Israel, God promised He would judge them as well. God spoke to them through the prophet Isaiah, "And thou saidst, I shall be a lady for ever: so that thou didst not lay these things to thy heart, neither didst remember the latter end of it. Therefore hear now this, thou that art given to pleasures, that dwellest carelessly, that sayest in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me; I shall not sit as a widow, neither shall I know the loss of children: But these two things shall come to thee in a moment in one day, the loss of children, and widowhood: they shall come upon thee in their perfection for the multitude of thy sorceries, and for the great abundance of thine enchantments. For thou hast trusted in thy wickedness: thou hast said, None seeth me. Thy wisdom and thy knowledge, it hath perverted thee; and thou hast said in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me."
Isaiah continues, "Therefore shall evil come upon thee; thou shalt not know from whence it riseth: and mischief shall fall upon thee; thou shalt not be able to put it off: and desolation shall come upon thee suddenly, which thou shalt not know. Stand now with thine enchantments, and with the multitude of thy sorceries, wherein thou hast laboured from thy youth; if so be thou shalt be able to profit, if so be thou mayest prevail. Thou art wearied in the multitude of thy counsels. Let now the astrologers, the stargazers, the monthly prognosticators, stand up, and save thee from these things that shall come upon thee. Behold, they shall be as stubble; the fire shall burn them; they shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame: there shall not be a coal to warm at, nor fire to sit before it. Thus shall they be unto thee with whom thou hast laboured, even thy merchants, from thy youth: they shall wander every one to his quarter; none shall save thee." (Isaiah 46:7-15).
God told them that sudden calamity would come upon the nation. "Go ahead and consult your astrologers and sorcerers," God said, "no one will be able to tell you why this happened or where it came from. They will all wander around like they are lost. They will not be able to deliver themselves nor save you!"
The New Testament
The New Testament also mentions the practices of witchcraft and sorcery. Paul admonished the Galatians, "The works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." (Galatians 5:19-21). In the book of Acts, we read of a young woman with a spirit of divination who followed Paul and the disciples, and declared, "These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation." But, Paul was grieved after several days of this, and turned to her and commanded the spirit, in the name of Jesus Christ, to come out of her (Acts 16:16-18).
Again, as with King Saul and the woman with the familiar spirit, the young damsel's power of divination seemed to be used for good, for she goes behind Paul and the apostles declaring them to be servants of God bringing the way of salvation. But Paul is grieved and commands the spirit to come out. Satan knew he could not destroy Paul and the disciples until God said their time was fulfilled. He therefore sought instead to destroy their message, to undermine and weaken it, by associating it with the young woman who had a familiar spirit.
Today, many false prophets and teachers prey upon the church. The miracles and works they do are actually performed by the hand of Satan to deceive the elect, and to weaken and destroy the message of the Gospel. Some even preach righteousness, appearing to be righteous before men, but they are the puppets of Satan. It is this same power which is used of people who partake in sorcery, witchcraft, necromancy, and astrology. Paul warned the Corinthians, "For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works." (2 Corinthians 11:13-15).
The Scriptures are clear regarding God's stand against fortunetellers, palm readers, those who communicate with the dead, astrologers, witches and wizards, and others who partake in like crafts. Christians should never consult one with a familiar spirit, nor should they consult horoscopes or psychics, even if it appears to be for good. "They which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." (Galatians 5:21). God always desires for us to come to Him and seek Him for guidance and direction, for He longs to lead us beside still waters. "Ye shall seek me, and find me," God has promised us, "when ye shall search for me with all your heart." (Jeremiah 29:13). Concerning Jesus, the Prophet God promised He would send, Peter declared, "To whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life" (John 6:68-69).
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