If the Bible condemns divination, then why do God’s people divine by casting lots and divine by using the Urim and Thummim?  And if the Bible forbids contact with witches and wizards, then why were God’s people allowed to consult prophets and seers?

Sincerely,
Consulting The Crystal

Dear Consulting The Crystal,

The Bible condemns the worship and reverence of any god other than the one true God (Ex 20:3).  Prophets and seers were sent by God (Jer 44:4) and were mouthpieces for God (2 Chr 36:12).  Witches and wizards seek power and authority from false gods and demons.

Casting lots and the Urim and the Thummim are the same issue.  When the Israelites cast lots, they did it in the sight of God and in the hopes that God would answer them (Josh 18:6).  The Urim and the Thummim were also God-sanctioned tools.  God specifically told the priest to use these two stones to help in making judgments (Ex 28:30).

The definition for ‘divination’ is ‘the practice of seeking knowledge of the future or the unknown by supernatural means’.  When Israel sought knowledge in ways that God condoned – that sort of divination was permissible.  What is condemned is seeking knowledge through supernatural means other than God.

My wife bought a gift for me as a symbol of love only; it is a piece of jewelry called an Italian horn.  We both love the Lord with all our heart; we aren’t superstitious in any way.  I looked up what this piece of jewelry depicted, which is a moon goddess.  This is in no way an idol to me; I serve the Father of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob only!  Jesus Christ is my Lord, my Rock, and my Salvation.  My question is: am I in sin by wearing the Italian horn around my neck?

Sincerely,
Italian Accessorized

Dear Italian Accessorized,

Many people wear jewelry that depicts ancient idolatrous behavior (almost all Native American artwork falls into this category).  As Paul said, “we know that an idol is nothing” (1 Cor 8:4).  The jewelry has no intrinsic evil to it; it is only if it is perceived as an item of worship that it becomes sinful.  If people believed you were wearing the jewelry for religious purposes (or if it offended your conscience), you would have to stop (1 Cor 8:7-9).

I have a question regarding Isaiah 3:1-3 (NIV).  Someone told me that for first-time Bible readers, if they were to look at this Scripture first, they would think that enchanters and soothsayers were ranked among heroes, warriors, prophets, judges, elders, counselors, etc.  Why then were “enchanters and soothsayers” included in this “positive passage” when other verses condemn them?

Sincerely,
Not A Mind-Reader

Dear Not A Mind-Reader,

Isaiah 3:1-3 is simply telling the people that they will be deprived of all that they value.  All of the classes that are considered superior by the people would be wiped out.  The soothsayer was honored by the people in Jerusalem, but that doesn’t mean that God was pleased with enchanters and soothsayers.  As you said, God makes it clear in other verses that He detests such occult behavior (1 Sam. 15:23).

According to Isaiah 3:1-3, God was about to take away everything from Judah and Jerusalem, including soothsayers and enchanters.  So does this mean all this time there were soothsayers and enchanters among Judah and Jerusalem?

Sincerely,
Enchanting

Dear Enchanting,

Yes, Judah and Jerusalem had become a very corrupt nation, and God was deeply displeased with them at this time.  Isaiah prophesied during a time when idolatry was abundant (Isa 10:11), and wickedness was everywhere (Isa 2:5-8).  God was greatly displeased with the nation and was going to send them into captivity for their evil ways and ignorance of God’s laws (Isa 5:13).

Should christians believe in old wives’ tales and superstitions?  I was sitting outside on the front porch with friends, and a bird flew in the front door.  Everyone started saying this was a sign of bad luck or death.  What is your view?

Sincerely,
One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest

Dear One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest,

Superstition is wrong.  Christians know that all blessings flow from God (Jas 1:17) and that if things work out for us, it is because God took care of us (Rom 8:28).  Luck has nothing to do with it.  Superstitions try and bring control in our lives by predicting the future through random events (black cat crossing your path, carrying a lucky rabbit’s foot, etc.)… but that is nonsense and ignorance.  The Bible declares that trusting in such things is foolishness and unfit for christians.  We should all do exactly what Paul said to Timothy: refuse old wives’ tales (1 Tim. 4:7).

We are studying the book of Genesis in my small group Bible study.  The teacher explained that before the prophecy in Isaiah and other passages in the Old Testament about the Virgin Mary giving birth to the Messiah, Jesus, that the Virgin and the Messiah were predicted by Zodiac signs, including the Virgo sign.  My small group teacher said even though he did not believe in astrology, this was how the Messiah’s birth was predicted in the early Bible times.  But the Baal worshippers twisted the Zodiac concept around from what true followers of God had prophesied.  As you can tell, it sounds very confusing, and he gave absolutely no Bible scriptures to back his theory.  He is a very nice and sincere man, and I believe he loves God.  But I read in numerous places in the Bible that anything to do with fortune telling (which Zodiac signs are) is strictly of Satan.  The Bible says that Satan is the author of confusion, and this teacher was very confusing.  I believe he thought he was being led by God’s spirit.  As you can tell, this is a difficult question, but prayerfully you can give me some Bible scriptures to back this teacher’s theory or disclaim this teacher’s theory.

Sincerely,
Starry-Eyed Student

Dear Starry-Eyed Student,

Astrology is wrong, and so is this teacher.  Astrology, mysticism, séances, horoscopes, palm reading, etc. are all sinful.  God condemned that behavior in the Old Testament (Isa 47:13-14).  King Saul was put to death by God for seeking a woman that practiced divining (1 Chr 10:13). Any Jew that was found visiting a ‘medium’ or ‘spiritist’ would be cut off from His people (Lev 20:6).  In the New Testament, astrology is just as roundly condemned.  Paul cast out an evil spirit that was fortune-telling (Acts 16:16-18).  When someone became a christian, they confessed sorcery as evil, and many of them burned their books of the magical arts (Acts 19:18-20).  If we want wisdom, we should seek it from God (Jas 1:5).  All astrology, horoscopes, and the like are wrong.

Since God clearly condemns astrology, it wouldn’t make any sense that He would use astrology to predict the coming of Jesus.  As you said, there aren’t any verses to back up what this teacher was saying… there is a reason for that.  Regardless of what this man’s general character is, he has made a mistake.  The Bible simply doesn’t back up his theory.