A Future Look
9. “When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, be very careful not to imitate the detestable customs of the nations living there.
10. For example, never sacrifice your son or daughter as a burnt offering. And do not let your people practice fortune-telling, or use sorcery, or interpret omens, or engage in witchcraft,
11. or cast spells, or function as mediums or psychics, or call forth the spirits of the dead.
12. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord. It is because the other nations have done these detestable things that the Lord your God will drive them out ahead of you.
13. But you must be blameless before the Lord your God.
14. The nations you are about to displace consult sorcerers and fortune-tellers, but the Lord your God forbids you to do such things.” Deuteronomy 18:9-14
Advertisement
People want to know the future. Most newspapers carry horoscopes and predictions by self-proclaimed future-tellers. There are even “psychic hotlines” to call. These people make a living because there’s a market.
This section of Scripture highlights laws for ruling the nation of Israel. It covers the usual civil regulations, such as instructions on judges, the courts, and the king. But right smack in the middle are guidelines about the occult.
All citizens will find something here: responsibility to vote; responsibility of leaders; and balancing justice with mercy.
The Israelites were naturally curious about the occult practices of the Canaanite religions. They may have thought, What’s wrong with checking it out? or It won’t hurt to dabble in it just a little. But Satan is behind the occult, and God flatly forbade Israel to have anything to do with it (Deuteronomy 18:9-14).
Today, people are still fascinated by horoscopes, fortune-telling, Ouija boards, witchcraft, and even satanic cults. Often their interest arises from a desire to know and control the future. What’s the harm? they may think. But Satan is no less dangerous today than he was in Moses’ time. God tells us all we need to know about what is going to happen. We don’t need to turn to occult sources for faulty information; instead we should seek the trustworthy guidance of the Holy Spirit through the Bible and the church.
