Isaiah I&II: A Word for the Wary
Sermon Review
23 & 30 September 2001
Isaiah 47:12-15

In this modern age you would expect that practices such as astrology would not be wide spread today, but they are. Indeed, astrology - the art of using star and planetary motions to predict the future is very widely believed in. You can ring up on the phone and receive your daily horoscope, or you can have them down loaded daily to your e-mail site. Despite the fact that it is based on a pretend ring that goes around a set of stars that is cut up into twelve arbritary parts, people still consult horoscopes for guidance in their lives on everything from their love life, to finances, travel, and even gardening and dieting. Most newspapers and magazines have them.. Adding to this astrological mayhem, are the many opportunities for having your palm read, fortunes told, crystal bowls and tarrot cards consulted, dreams interpreted, and spirit medium led seances and ouija board experiences. The truth is that we have a modern world trying to contact the spiritual world through dangerous, divinely forbidden ways.

In a book I recently read, the author states that if it were possible to change the basic atomic frequencies of matter so that one set of things was out of tune with the rest of the world, those solid things could pass right through the rest of matter as if it were not there! Theoretically, two worlds could coexist in the same place at the same time with each passing right through the other without either knowing that the other was there. I don't know if such a thing is actually possible, but the Bible does make clear that we are surrounded by a spiritual world that is invisible but just as real as our reality whether it is matter on a different frequency or not. What is important for people to realise about this invisible world is that not only does the God who created the universe and all within it, and his angels inhabit it, but also evil spirit beings with Satan at the head. Consequently, God has forbidden contact or involvement with that world apart from through Him and His truth eg. Duet.18:10,11; Ex.22:18; Lev.20:6 etc. Despite this, such practises were wide spread in the ancient world, even as they are today, as Isaiah indicates eg. Egypt 19:3; Israel & the East 8:19, 2:6, Babylon 47:12ff.

Dangerous Thinking:
Unfortunately the growth of modern science attempts to persuade that such things are simply a hotch potch of superstitions, sleight of hand and deception. Not that this view is worldwide. For example a newspaper reported in 1998 the following: 'Football fans in the central African state of Congo were hurling accusations of witchcraft at each other yesterday after a freak blast of lightning struck dead an entire team on the playing field while their opponents were left completely untouched. The bizarre blow by the weather to all 11 members of the football team was reported in the daily newspaper L'Avenir in Kinshasa, the capital of Congo. It said lightning killed at a stroke 11 young people aged between 20 and 35 years during a football match'. It went on to say that 30 other people had received burns at the weekend match held in the eastern province of Kasai. The exact nature of the lightning has divided the population in this region which is known for its use of fetishes in football, the newspaper commented.'

What we need to keep in mind is that although the use of such things as magic and divination, astrology and speaking to the dead are forbidden, the Bible does not suggest that all such things are fakery and mummery. For example, in the book of Job we see Satan influencing people and weather as well as health; the magicians in ancient Egypt were able to duplicate many of God's miracles. In the New Testament we also have demon possession, Satan causing the betrayal of Jesus, and warnings of people listening to seducing spirits etc. In real life amongst these forbidden areas of spirit world contact, there is no doubt much deception and sleight of hand, but one would be very silly indeed to think that all of it is. Horoscopes, sorcery, Ouija boarding, and sceancing and the like are far from being either benign or innocent. They either bring people into contact with dangerous powers or reinforce dangerous misunderstandings about reality which lead them away from seeking and depending on the living God. Ultimately, any protection or support one can gain from such things as magic and sorceries, conjuring and astrologers etc. will not live up to expectations. The Babylonians were devoted practitioners of such thing, but they could not stand against their conquerors, the Medes and the Persians, nor against the living God who used those conquerors to bring them undone.

Isaiah's Prophecy:
As we read Isaiah's prophecy today, we now know why Babylon did not prosper after conquering Judah and sacking Jerusalem. This nation came under God's judgment because they showed little mercy to Judah, attributed their success to their own prowess, and arrogantly believed in their own invincibility 6,7. Isaiah predicted long before hand that a full measure of judgment was going to come to them 9., and despite any power in their sorceries, spells, astrological counsel, wealth, and even ignorant beliefs that their atrocities were hidden, would not help them 9ff. They were doomed. In fact after sacking Jer. in 597 BC. and exiling many of the Jews with them, Babylon was continually reeling from political and economic upheaval, with several coup's, new monarchs, and incredible inflation created by widespread expenditure on the military and public works. You can imagine the spiritual appealing going on in a city that had 50 closed and 50 open shrines to various spirits and deities, two major temples, and over 1800 niches, pedestals, and sacred places for images and icons scattered throughout the city. Add all this to the flurry of spells, conjuring, and astrological searching going on amongst both the nobles and the common stock throughout this time period as well! However, despite all, in 539 Babylon was overwhelmed by the Medes & Persians under Cyrus, who sent the exiles back to Jerusalem to begin rebuilding and starting again. History records that indeed they not only fell, but Babylon is nothing more than ruins today 50 miles south of modern Baghdad. Like many around them at the time, and many today, the fall of Babylon shows us that things like magic and horoscopes, spells and sorceries, even when allied with all sorts of political and military machinery, and appeals to every known deity bar the Living God, are ultimately helpless to help when push comes to shove.

Today:
You might ask why people would bother to seek help from such alternatives to God. The answer is for many of the same reasons that we seek God - to deal with guilt, find protection, security etc. Be very sure that as uncertainty in the Babylonian world no doubt triggered a flurry of spiritually forbidden activity, in our present very uncertain times today the same will happen. The tragedy in New York and Washington has sent shock waves throughout the world that will be felt not only in every country and nation, but on every level, from the political and economic, to the religious and spiritual. In these uncertain times you will not only have people questing for God, but turning to many of the 'spiritual' alternatives available, even locally. Even some Christians may find themselves tempted to supplement their guidance from God with things like horoscopes etc. Certainly some of our friends and acquaintances will.

Challenge:
The scriptures make plain that God will give us all the guidance, protection, support, and encouragement that a person needs in life. The Holy spirit lives within (John 14), and he is greater than any demonic being or force 1John 4. When we want counsel, or guidance for our lives; when we want support and help; when we are facing difficulties and pressures, the one to go to, to trust in, is God, not the wealth of diverse offerings available today as nice alternatives or supplements. We need to assert this in our own lives as well as warn the unwary away from forbidden and dangerous alternatives. In Ephesus it is worth noting that a response at conversion is to make clean and complete breaks with any such practices Acts.19:18,19. God forbids drawing on the unseen spirit world except through him and his truth. Babylon was only one of many nations and cities that learned the hard way the danger and ultimate uselessness of such things. In these uncertain times, God is certain, and the only foundation to stand on. Remember the cross and resurrection - the basis, the proof of the victory in Christ, and the reason why we do not need to seek any other spiritual alternatives for the uncertainties and problems of life.

Blessings

 

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