THE ETERNAL and Magic
By Ken Graydon

 

Does the ETERNAL have anything to say about magic, divining or spells? How does Harry Potter or The Lord of the Rings measure up to the words of the CREATOR of the Universe?

 

The Tanakh does not deny the existence of magic or even doubt its power but it makes it very clear, as we shall see, that it is totally opposed to the will of the ETERNAL.

 

It would be reasonable to understand that the reason Adam and Eve were told not to eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil because the power that it releases is opposed to the ETERNAL. Within one day of eating the fruit Adam and Eve were ejected from the garden and armed guards were placed to keep them out. [see Genesis chapter three]

 

I imagine you have heard the rationalisation about the Harry Potter film that, at least, good triumphs over evil. By what method? Casting spells, ignoring the law of the ETERNAL and conjuring up all kinds of entities? Do we care so little for our children that we expose them to this evil wrapped in glamorous packages and marketed by multi-national corporations? Is it any wonder the ETERNAL is calling us to repent?

 

We have developed a very flexible approach to the truth. If we do not like the words of the ETERNAL we change the meaning of the words. How long ago was it, that if something was described as wicked, we knew it was evil and had to be avoided. We changed the meaning of the word – now wicked means good! Is the ETERNAL stupid? Do you think HE might not notice this ‘sophisticated’ human strategy of word changing?

 

The Tanakh deals with the whole gamut of magic and condemns it. The diviner, the magician, the medium, the necromancer all are condemned for these practices – not because they do not work but because they do!

 

Leviticus 19:31 Do not turn to ghosts and do not inquire of familiar spirits, to be defiled by them: I the ETERNAL am your CREATOR.

Leviticus 20:27 A man or a woman who has a familiar spirit shall be put to death; they shall be pelted with stones – their bloodguilt shall be upon them.

Deuteronomy 18: 10-13. Let no one be found among you who consigns his son or daughter to the fire, or who is an augur, a soothsayer, a diviner, a sorcerer, one who casts spells, or one who consults ghosts or familiar spirits, or one who inquires of the dead. For anyone who does such things is abhorrent to the ETERNAL, and it is because of these abhorrent things that the ETERNAL is dispossessing them before you. You must be wholehearted with the ETERNAL your CREATOR.

Micah 5: 11-13. I will destroy the sorcery you practice and you shall have no more soothsayers. I will destroy your idols and the sacred pillars in your midst; and no more shall you bow down to the work of your hands. I will tear down the sacred posts in your midst and destroy your cities.

 

A nation that worships money and wealth, seeking prophecies about opportunities for profit, could find that the buildings housing the financial services area are destroyed. Repentance is required urgently!

 

Isaiah 47: 9-15. These two things shall come upon you, suddenly, in one day; loss of children and widowhood shall come upon you in full measure, despite your many enchantments and all you countless spells. You were secure in your wickedness (wickedness means evil) you thought, “ no one can see me.” It was your skill and your science that led you astray. And you thought to yourself, “I am, and there is none but me.” Evil is coming upon you which you will not know how to charm away. Disaster is falling upon you which you will not be able to appease; coming upon you suddenly is ruin, of which you know nothing. Stand up, with your many spells and your many enchantments on which you laboured since youth! Perhaps you’ll be able to profit, perhaps you will find strength. You are helpless, despite all your art. Let them stand up and help you now, the scanners of heaven, the star gazers, who announce, month by month, whatever will come upon you. See, they are become like straw, fire consumes them; they cannot save themselves from the power of the flame; this is no coal for warming oneself, no fire to sit by! This is what they have profited you – the traders you dealt with since youth  - each has wandered off his own way, there is none to save you.

 

Even that best read column of newspaper and magazine – the horoscope – comes under the criticism of the ETERNAL. No matter how many strange pathways we walk upon, or how many spells we use, or enchanters we follow it comes down to this – a consuming fire! The ETERNAL makes it very clear that there is not enough magic in the world to save you from this. Only the ETERNAL is your Redeemer and Saviour – no one else and there is no other way.

 

There is a story in 1 Samuel chapters six and seven that might be called “The Spell of the Golden Hemorrhoids”. The Philistines had stolen the Ark of the Covenant from Israel and they were struck with a plague of hemorrhoids and of mice. The pagan priests and the diviners advised that the Ark of the Covenant should be returned along with some gold models of mice and hemorrhoids as a magical way of paying off the ETERNAL. It did not work! The Philistines were humbled and lost the territory they had taken from Israel. The ETERNAL thundered against them (the Tanakh says) and threw them into fear and confusion.

 

The Tanakh tells us the ways of the ETERNAL, they do not include magic – no matter how well presented or marketed – do not expose your children (or yourself) to the inescapable penalty for disobedience.

 

To give credit where it is due The Seventh Day Adventist Church spoke out against the Harry Potter film (Sabbath keeping opens you up to the revelations of the ETERNAL) the Roman Catholic Church supported the film but they are involved with many other superstitions anyway.