Diving, Witchcraft,
Spiritism
(Balaam Study)
Num 23:3
Balaam [apparently] expected to mark some phenomenon in
the sky or in nature, which he would be able, according to the rules of his
former art, to interpret as an omen sign. Num 23:23 w/ 24:1. We know
Balaam was a diviner based on Josh 13:22 and other verses. Josh
13:22 The sons of Israel also killed Balaam the son of Beor, the
diviner, with the sword among the
rest of their slain
He went off by himself, where he might practice rites and
ceremonies, with a view to obtain a response of the oracle, message from God.
Heathen soothsayers were accustomed to select the lonely and barren summits of
mountains for their auspices. I guess they would get in touch with nature.
A first principle is: When in the presence
of unbelievers, do not isolate yourself in the worship of God. Be a visible witness. Otherwise how will they know about the Word
of God. Unfortunately in Balaam's case,
his sneaking off was to perform demonic ceremonies.
Acts 22:15 For you will be
a witness for Him to all men of what you have seen and heard.
Ezk 21:21“For
the king of Babylon stands at the parting of the way, at the head of the two
ways, to use divination; he shakes the arrows, he consults the household idols,
he looks at the liver (hepatoscopy).
Saul, the first Hebrew king, is said to have "removed
from the land those who were mediums and spiritists.”, 1 Sam. 28:3, but
even he later sought out a necromancer, 1 Sam. 28:7.
The true prophet speaks under a strong impulse and from
a sense of duty. The heathen diviner used his calling for money. The true
prophet believed God directly guided him. The Seer / Diviner worked himself
into a state of frenzy and thought to imply inspiration by music and certain
drugs.
Divining or fortune telling was forbidden for God's
people, Lev 19:26, “You shall not ….. practice divination or soothsaying.”
In this verse the word Divination is ùçð - nachash; (Enchantments). Which means to practice divination, observe signs, practice
fortune telling, take as an omen. This word is also used in other scriptures to
mean serpent. Gen 3:1
The superstition here that is prohibited by God may be
what the Greeks called Ophiomanteia, or divination by serpents.
We also have the word Soothsaying which is ïð‡òÈ - aònan. Anan means to bring (clouds), practice soothsaying,
conjure, to observe times, or spiritism, magic, augury, witchcraft. An
enchanter, sorceress, fortuneteller
The principal signs a diviner deduced his omens from
were:
1) Celestial signs: lightning and thunder, the direction
of lightning (right to left a good sign, and vice versa).
2) Signs from the flight, cries and feeding of birds.
3) Signs from the movements and audible sounds of
animals, including serpents.
4) Signs from the examination of the entrails - liver of
animals, (hepatoscopy).
5) By arrows, (belomancy).
6) By lot, (sortilege).
Among the Romans as among other nations (Babylonians,
etc.), a sacrifice was offered before omens were taken, so as to propitiate the
gods. It's interesting that Balaam did
the same thing. God's word directs us to not get involved with this type of
evil. Deut 18:9-14. In Deut 18-9f we have several words that shed
more light on the demonic practices.
They are:
Pass
through the fire; - Worship of Molech- Human Sacrifices
One
who uses divination; (Diviner of divinations) - General term for the
types in the list that follows, “augury” and “soothsayer’s token,” or the omen
that was superstitiously observed.
“Soothsayer” is the term applied to Balaam in Josh.
13:22.
Divination,
is from the verb Qaôsam, “to divide,” means to give
false prophecy or seek to determine the will of the gods by examining and
interpreting omens.
(Qaôsam is also used in Josh.
13:22; 1 Sam. 6:2; 28:8; 2 Kings 17:17; Isa. 3:2; 44:25; Jer. 27:9; 29:8; Ezek.
13:6, 9, 23; 21:21, 23, 29; 22:28; Micah 3:6-7, 11; Zech. 10:2.)
One
who practices witchcraft; (Soothsayer), - Practicing
hidden arts. Observer of times—ïðåòî meonen, one who pretends to foretell future events by
present occurrences, and who predicts great political, or physical changes from
the aspects of the planets, eclipses, motion of the clouds, etc.
The root word here is ïð‡òÈ anan; to practice soothsaying:—diviners’ to cloud over; figuratively to act covertly,
that is, practice magic, enchanter.
Sorcery
(€aônan, Deut. 18:10, 14; cf. Lev. 19:26; 2 Kings
21:6; Isa. 2:6; Micah 5:12, “cast spells”) is the attempt to control
people, or circumstances through power given by evil spirits (demons).
One
who interprets omens; (Warlock), - looking at nature and the stars for
signs To interpret omens is to tell
the future based on “signs” such as the movements of birds, fire, or rain.
Enchanter—ùçðî menachesh, from ùçð nichesh, to view attentively; one who inspected the
entrails of beasts, observed the flight of birds, etc., and drew auguries
thence. Some think divination by serpents is meant, (Nachash = serpent) which
was common among the heathen. Lev 19:26.
A
Sorcerer; - a practitioner of spells and occult magic. A witch—óùçî mechashsheph, probably those who by means
of drugs, herbs, perfumes, etc., pretended to bring certain celestial
influences to their aid. The root word means Witchcraft (kaôsúapÔ) involves practicing magic by
incantations. Ex 7:11, Dan 2:2, Mal 3:5
One
who casts a spell; (Charmer of charms), One who casts spells is literally “one who ties
knots” (hÖaôbÔar), thus one who binds other people by magical
mutterings.
A charmer—øáç øáç chober chaber, one who uses spells; the
term implies, of words, or things, tying knots, etc., for the purposes of
divination. Psa 58:5
A
Medium; one who supposedly communicates with the dead but who
actually communicates with demons (Medium of dead spirits). A consulter with
familiar spirits—áåà ìàù shoel ob, a Pythoness, one who inquires by the means of one
spirit to get oracular answers from another of a superior order. Lev 19:31.
A
Spiritist, (Channeler) one who pretends to know about the unseen
world. A wizard—éðòãé yiddeoni, a wise one, a knowing one. Wizard was formerly
considered as the masculine of witch, both practicing divinations by similar
means. Lev 19:31
One
who calls up the dead, (Necromancer). One who consults the dead may mean the spiritists attempt to contact
the dead to gain advice, information on the future, or help in manipulation.
Necromancer—íéúîä ìà ùøã doresh el hammethim, one who seeks from, or
inquires of the dead. Such as the witch at Endor, who professed to evoke the
dead, in order to get them to disclose the secrets of the spiritual world. 1
Sam 28
All these practices are forbidden because they divorce
life from morality.
Several factors make this clear:
1) The future is “determined” by one’s choice and decisions
for, or against God, not by magical manipulation.
2) Using magic to manipulate your circumstances is a
futile attempt to flee from the Lord’s ethical laws which promoted life and
blessing.
3) The use of magic and divination is a
refusal to acknowledge the sovereignty of the
Lord.
4) Reliance on these practices indicated a corresponding
failure to trust the Lord with your life.
The true prophet is determined by the outcome of his
word having 100% accuracy. Deut 18:20-22
Even though these things are mentioned in the Old
Testament, if you just look at society today, you see these very same things in
use. Between TV shows with individuals
who supposedly talk to the dead, or have psychic powers to talk with animals,
or those who are called Channelers who represent past lives, or those that tell
fortunes, or read Tarot cards. These
practices from Satan are still in use today and are here to deceive man away
from God.