What does the Bible say about fortune telling and witchcraft?

Question:

What does the Bible say about witchcraft and fortune telling practices? I have recently met a woman who practices this, but I do not have sufficient clarity on the subject, to give her a good advice. Please help us.

God categorically condemns sorcery and fortune telling

These occult practices are very different: love charms, fortune telling with coffee, fortune telling with cards, etc.Every time when these practices are mentioned in the Bible they are condemned by God who asks us to categorically condemn them.Here’s what one of these passages says:

 

There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who practices witchcraft, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who casts a spell, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. For whoever does these things is detestable to the LORD; and because of these detestable things the LORD your God will drive them out before you. You shall be blameless before the LORD your God. For those nations, which you shall dispossess, listen to those who practice witchcraft and to diviners, but as for you, the LORD your God has not allowed you to do so. (Deuteronomy 18:10-14)

Fortune tellers and sorcerers are worthy of death

These practices are detestable before God and attract large penalties on the peoples where they are spread, and the inhabitants are chased away from their territory.In the villages from Moldova these practices are very widespread, newspapers abound in advertising fortune tellers and sorcerers and most radios announce the horoscope daily. Shall we then wonder that so many people have left the country?The consequences of fortune telling and witchcraft are seen in the whole nation.Therefore, God let this commandment in the Old Testament:

 

Thus you are to be holy to Me, for I the LORD am holy; and I have set you apart from the peoples to be Mine. Now a man or a woman who is a medium or a spiritist shall surely be put to death. They shall be stoned with stones, their bloodguiltiness is upon them. (Leviticus 20:26-27)(NASB)

Going to fortune tellers and sorcerers is condemned by God

Those who appeal to the services offered by witch crafts and fortune tellers are guilty and worthy of the same punishment.When people do not take action, God will not delay to bring out His judgments on these people, as it is written in the Bible:

As for the person who turns to mediums and to spiritists, to play the harlot after them, I will also set My face against that person and will cut him off from among his people. (Leviticus 20:6)(NASB)

When I heard that some of my relatives practices fortune telling, I went and warned her immediately.But she did not want to listen to me and she excused herself that in that way she solved the financial problems of the family and added: “I do not harm anyone…” At that time they had a family and that was good.Now their family is severely affected and their children suffer greatly. Why have not they repented in time?

Fortune telling and witchcraft is the work of devils

Here is a case described in the book of Acts that highlights this truth:

 

It happened that as we were going to the place of prayer, a slave-girl having a spirit of divination met us, who was bringing her masters much profit by fortune-telling. Following after Paul and us, she kept crying out, saying, “These men are bond-servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation.” She continued doing this for many days. But Paul was greatly annoyed, and turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!” And it came out at that very moment. But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the market place before the authorities. (Acts 16:16-19)(NASB)

The slave-girl was able to divine as long as she had the spirit of divination and he was the one who spoke through her. Since the spirit  went away from her, she could no longer divine.That is why God condemns witchcraft and fortune telling definitely, because those who appeal to sorcerers and fortune tellers are guided by spirits of divination and Satan.

Beware and run away from witch crafts, fortune tellers and all other practices which God says are disgusting.Tell everyone about it.

Translated by Felicia Rotaru