“Don’t sacrifice your sons or daughters in the fires on your altars. Don’t try to learn what will happen in the future by talking to a fortuneteller or by going to a magician, a witch, or a sorcerer. Don’t let anyone try to put magic spells on other people. Don’t let any of your people become a medium or a wizard. And no one should try to talk with someone who has died” (De. 18:10-11).
God’s people in ancient times were neither immune to anxiety about their security from real and imagined dangers, nor were they immune to curiosity about their uncertain future. The temptation to seek guidance from all sorts of spiritual “powers” and sources was huge indeed. The seduction of spiritist experimentation was quite strong then as now.
Nevertheless, Yahweh strictly forbade them from dabbling in the occult and all such. He demanded their total trust in Him and Him alone, whatever challenges they faced. Only unmixed faith was acceptable, and dabbling in the occult was detestable.
Beloved, God’s people today are not immune to similar threats, temptations and seductions. God’s will about spiritual purity hasn’t suddenly changed because of our postmodern, relativist and permissive society. Let us remain spiritually pure in this holy season and beyond.
Pastor Josh