Bible Reading: Numbers 19; Psalms 56-57; Isaiah 8-9:7; James 2
To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. (Isaiah 8:20)
Isaiah lived in a day much like ours. The people of God were not really interested in following God. They went through the religious motions but they had also adopted many Canaanite practices. The people had turned to the occult to try to gain knowledge.
And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead? (Isaiah 8:19)
The people were trying to understand what the future held and they were advising one another to turn to those with familiar spirits and to wizards for understanding. A person with a familiar spirit is one who is either possessed or in contact with a spirit being who supposedly gives the person occult (or hidden) information. A wizard is a witch who uses sorcery (hallucinogenic drugs) to conjure up spirits to do his bidding or give him information. They peep and mutter their incantations as they use magic.
Is this going on today in our society? Absolutely! Fascination with the occult is probably more widespread than ever. The occult bookstores do a huge business and astrologers and palm readers abound who will tell your future. Isaiah asks the question: should not a people seek unto their God? Is knowledge to be found by seeking the dead?
The answer to his question is – no, the dead have nothing to share with us. We should seek God, not occult knowledge. Years before Moses had warned the people of Israel about the Canaanite occult practices.
When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee. (Deuteronomy 18:9-12)
Light is understanding and knowledge. Isaiah tells us if they speak not according to this word it is because there is no light in them. If you gain 'secret' knowledge and yet the person giving it tells you something contrary to God's Word, you have gained nothing! The occult practitioners have no light in them!
To the law and to the prophets! To the Bible! God has spoken. Do you want information? Get it from God's Word, not from demons.
In Christ,
Rody
