The Bible is clear about fortune telling: it’s a big no. Seen as a form of divination, fortune telling is consistently discouraged and condemned throughout the Bible. The core message is to trust in God’s plan and guidance, rather than seeking knowledge of the future through such practices.
What Does the Bible Say About Fortune Telling?
Fortune telling, as a practice of divination, is clearly addressed in the Bible, and the stance is unequivocally negative. Throughout the scriptures, fortune telling and similar practices are discouraged and condemned, with a strong emphasis on trusting in God rather than seeking knowledge of the future through divination.
In the Old Testament, the Law given to the Israelites explicitly forbids practices like fortune telling. It’s seen as part of pagan cultures surrounding Israel, and God commands His people to avoid such practices. The reasoning is twofold: it’s an affront to God’s sovereignty, and it leads people away from trusting in Him.
The Bible’s opposition to fortune telling is rooted in its view of God’s sovereignty. God alone knows the future, and seeking to uncover it through divination is seen as an attempt to circumvent His will. It’s about relying on God’s timing and plan, even when the future seems uncertain or challenging.
In the New Testament, this theme continues. The teachings of Jesus and the apostles focus on faith in God and His guidance, rather than seeking future knowledge through questionable means. The story of the slave girl with a spirit of divination in Acts is a case in point. Paul casts out the spirit, demonstrating the power of God over such practices.
Furthermore, the Bible warns about the spiritual danger associated with fortune telling. It’s often linked with other practices condemned in the Bible, like sorcery and witchcraft. The underlying concern is that these practices can lead people away from a genuine relationship with God and into spiritual deception.
The Bible also encourages discernment. In a world where many claim to have knowledge or power, Christians are called to test everything against the truth of God’s Word. This discernment is crucial in matters like fortune telling, which can easily lead to confusion and deception.
In summary, the Bible’s message about fortune telling is clear. It’s seen as a practice that opposes God’s sovereignty, leads people away from trusting in Him, and poses spiritual risks. The encouragement is to seek guidance and understanding through prayer, scripture, and a close relationship with God, rather than through divination or fortune telling.
Bible Verses About Fortune Telling
- Deuteronomy 18:10-12 – “Let no one be found among you who… practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead.” This verse directly forbids practices associated with fortune telling.
- Leviticus 19:31 – “Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them. I am the Lord your God.” This commandment reinforces the prohibition of seeking future knowledge through mediums, a practice closely related to fortune telling.
- Acts 16:16-18 – The story of Paul dealing with a slave girl who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. Paul casts out the spirit, showing God’s power over such practices.
- Isaiah 47:13-14 – “Let your astrologers come forward, those stargazers who make predictions month by month, let them save you from what is coming upon you.” This verse criticizes the reliance on astrologers and implicitly, fortune telling, underscoring their inability to truly predict or alter the future.
- 1 Samuel 28 – The story of King Saul consulting the witch of Endor is a cautionary tale about seeking knowledge from forbidden sources.
- Galatians 5:19-21 – “The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft… I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.” Witchcraft and similar practices, often associated with fortune telling, are listed here as deeds that are contrary to God’s will.
- 2 Kings 21:6 – “He [Manasseh] sacrificed his own son in the fire, practiced divination, sought omens, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did much evil in the eyes of the Lord, arousing his anger.” This verse includes fortune telling practices among the evil deeds that displeased God.
- Jeremiah 10:2 – “Do not learn the way of the nations or be terrified by signs in the sky, though the nations are terrified by them.” This verse advises against following pagan practices, including those that resemble fortune telling.
- Ezekiel 13:6-8 – “They have seen false visions and lying divinations. They say, ‘Declares the Lord,’ when the Lord has not sent them, yet they expect their words to be fulfilled.” This passage warns against false prophets who claim to predict the future, akin to fortune tellers.
- Micah 5:12 – “I will destroy your witchcraft and you will no longer cast spells.” This verse speaks of God’s judgment against practices like witchcraft, often associated with fortune telling.
- 1 Chronicles 10:13-14 – “Saul died because he was unfaithful to the Lord; he did not keep the word of the Lord and even consulted a medium for guidance, and did not inquire of the Lord. So the Lord put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse.” This account of Saul’s downfall serves as a stark warning against seeking guidance from sources other than God, including fortune tellers and mediums.
- Proverbs 3:5-6 – “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” This verse emphasizes reliance on God rather than on human or mystical means for guidance and knowledge of the future.
- James 4:8 – “Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” This verse can be seen as a call to reject practices like fortune telling that lead away from God and towards a divided heart.
- Acts 19:19 – “A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas.” This verse shows new believers renouncing practices associated with divination and fortune telling as part of turning to God.
- Luke 16:29-31 – “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’ ‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’” This passage emphasizes the sufficiency of Scripture and God’s revelation over seeking knowledge from the dead or other forbidden means.
These verses collectively underscore the Bible’s clear stance against fortune telling and similar practices. They highlight the importance of seeking guidance from God, the dangers of relying on divination, and the call to trust in God’s sovereignty over the future.