Witchcraft

The word “witchcraft” did not come into existence until several centuries after the Bible was written. It appears to be first used by Catholic Church writers. Its actual etymology is not known, but there are several theories. The word witch probably carries the meaning of wise or wicked. If the word “witch” means “wicked”, then there not much to discuss concerning its meaning. But if the word “means” wise, we need to explore more in order to see how this applies to the Bible.

Many have assumed that the “craft” in witchcraft pertains to a “Skill in doing or making something, as in the arts; proficiency”. If this is what was meant by those who coined the word, then the term witchcraft would refer to the having a skill, art, or proficiency in knowledge or wisdom. 

However, simple “skill” is probably not what the Catholic writers had in mind for using the expression “craft” in this word. More than likely, “Skill in evasion or deception; guile,”* is the meaning that was meant, as this more harmonizes with the what is presented in the Bible. With this in mind, we can see how this word is carries similar meaning of “magi” or “wise men” or “cunning folk”**.
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*The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000.
http://www.bartleby.com/61/96/C0719600.html
** See:
http://www.btinternet.com/~kariastri/ohome.htm 

 

Nevertheless, the terminology implies having knowledge and ability of applying secret ceremony, thus the term “occultism”. However, it is the source of this wisdom and the power connected to it that should be of concern to one, not just the word used to describe it.

In the Bible, there is the wisdom of God and the wisdom of the evil one. Satan, through craftiness, using the serpent, led Eve to believe that by making herself a child of disobedience that she would become wise [the first performance of wise-craft — witchcraft — toward a human], but Paul says they became fools, that is, they were deceived. (Genesis 3:1-6; Romans 1:22; 2 Corinthians 11:3) As a result of this witchcraft, the world came to be in bondage to futility and corruption as sons of disobedience, the seed of the serpent, children of Satan. (Genesis 3:15; Psalm 39:5; Ecclesiastes 1:2; 2:11,15,17,19,21,23; 3:19; 4:4,8,16; 5:10; 6:11; 11:8,10; 12:8; Matthew 13:38; John 8:38,41,44; Romans 8:21,22; Acts 13:10; Ephesians 2:2; 5:6; Colossians 3:6) Through and by means of their faith in God’s promise, many are called out of Satan’s world to be counted as of the seed of the woman, the seed of promise, and as God’s children. (Exodus 4:22; Deuteronomy 14:1; Jeremiah 3:4; 31:1,9,19; Hosea 1:10; 11:1; John 1:12; Romans 8:14-17,29; 9:8; Galatians 3:26,29; 4:5-7; Ephesians 1:5; 1 John 3:1,2; Hebrews 11:4-40 ) The two seeds are in opposition to each other. Most miraculous works, even those that are often seen to be “good” in the eyes of men, even many miracles done in the name of Jesus, are nonetheless of Satan, who is deceiving the entire world. (Jeremiah 23:16,17; Matthew 7:22,23; Luke 13:26,27; 2 Thessalonians 2:9,10; 1 John 5:19; Revelation 12:9; 13:14) Satan makes himself appear to be an angel of light, an angel of good, thus he is wise in his craft. — 2 Corinthians 11:3,4; Matthew 4:1-10.

In the Bible, the words “crafty”, “cunning”, etc., [Hebrew, `aram, `aruwm, `ormah, Greek, Panourgos, Panourgia, Dolos] are usually spoken of as being deceptive (Genesis 3:1; Exodus 21:4; Joshua 9:4; 1 Samuel 23:22; Psalm 83:3; Job 5:12; 15:5; Matthew 6:4; 7:22; 14:1; John 1:47; Acts 13:10; Luke 20:23; Romans 1:29; 1 Corinthians 3:19; 2 Corinthians 4:2; 11:3; 12:16; Ephesians 4:14; 1 Thessalonians 2:3; 1 Peter 2:1; 2:22; 3:10; Revelation 14:5), but they also can be used of being prudent. (Proverbs 1:4; 8:5,12; 12:16,23; 13:16; 14:8; 14:15,18; 15:5; 19:25; 22:3; 27:12) Most often, however, the Hebrew and Greek words involved are used in the sense of deceptiveness, thus the scripture says that in Jesus there was no craft or guile. (John 1:47; 1 Peter 2:22) With this in mind, the basis as shown here of the word witch*craft*, craftily or cunningly wise, is that of being wise by deception — as was Satan, not as being prudent.

In the King James Version of the Bible, the words translated as witchcraft (wise by deception) in some translations: Hebrew, *Qecem* [Strong;s #7083], *Qacam* [Strong’s #7080], Kashaph [Strong’s #3784 and Kesheph* [Strong’s #3785; Greek: *Pharmakeia* [Strong’s #5331]. None of these words in themselves actually mean witch-craft, that is, craftily wise, but these words do imply such a meaning. These words are concerning various forms of the deceptive wisdom, such as sorcery, divination, spiritism, etc. 

Another related word is *’owb*, Strongs Hebrew #178. This word is translated in the KJV most often as “familiar spirit(s)”. Its actual meaning of “leathern vessel” relates to a person serving as a “vessel”, a medium, used by a spirit. The word “familiar” (not actually in the Bible itself, but is added by some translations) comes from the Latin word *familiaris*. It could relate to of one’s family, or to a household servant in a family. Evidently this is added to either express the idea of that medium could bring forth a spirit familiar to the one wishing to speak to his dead loved one, or that the medium had spirits as their servants ready to obey their commands.

Nevertheless, the various practices involved — magic, divination, sorcery, supposed communication with the dead, prophesying by stars, fortune telling – as described in the Bible are all forms of spiritualism, and could be considered by the word witchcraft, and those who practice these make use of the power given to the angels that sinned. These angels, the head of whom is Satan the father of the lie, do much to make themselves appear to be good, and make it appear that to disobey Jehovah is actually the right and good thing to do, as Satan did with Eve. – Isaiah 5:20; Malachi 3:15; Luke 11:35; 16:15; 2 Peter 2:18,19. 

Satan will cast out Satan in order to make himself and his works appear to be good rather than evil. Even most miracles done in Jesus’ name are not recognized by Jesus, thus are of Satan. In other words, Satan is divided against himself, and his house will soon fall. — Matthew 7:22,23; 12:24-27; 24:21,22,43; Revelation 3:10. 

The Bible totally and without reservation condemns the use of “wise craft” (the deceptive wisdom of the demons) to perform magic, healing, or whatever, no matter how good it may appear to be. (Exodus 22:18; Leviticus 19:31; 20:6,27; 2 Corinthians 11:14; Galatians 5:20) Proper use of Jehovah’s holy spirit is not condemned. Jesus performed works by means of the latter, not the former.

It is true that the source of all power is Jehovah, the God and Father of Jesus, but the fallen angels are misusing this power in opposition to the only true God. 

Wherever we find a counterfeit we may rest assured there exists a genuine. If there were no genuine gold dollars, there could be no base imitations, or counterfeits. Then too, the base or spurious article must appear very much like the genuine or it would not be a counterfeit. 

This is what we claim relative to what is at the present time called “Spiritualism”, “witchcraft”, sorcery, magick, etc.: That it is a deceptive counterfeit of the true works of God through his holy spirit, as described in the Bible. 

Whoever has carefully searched the scriptures cannot have failed to see that while God throughout all past ages has condemned evil and sin in their various forms, and warned his children — both “Israel after the flesh” and also the spiritual children (the Gospel Age Church) — of the danger and bad results of evil, yet He has nevertheless permitted evil and good to stand side by side before the people, for their choice. Additionally, what men may consider to be sinful and what Jehovah considers to be sin may not always agree. The mores of men in some cultures have demanded that a male guest in a home should sleep with the host’s wife. In some cultures it is considered proper to do service to idol-gods, etc. In some cultures fornication is considered the proper thing for teenagers before marriage. Thus what a culture may consider moral may not be what God considers to be right. If we take heed to Jehovah’s commands we may discern which is evil and by obedience to Jehovah’s Word, shun the evil and choose the good. God is the head and fountain of goodness and truth and the Scriptures teach that Satan is the head and fountain of all evil and error — ‘The father of lies’ (deceptions). (John 8:44) Both of these are spiritual beings. “God is a spirit,” (John 4:24) and Satan was once an angel of God — The chief or Prince of “Those angels which kept not their first (sinless) estate.” (Matthew 9:34; Jude 1:6) These, though cast out from God’s presence, are not yet destroyed — they still preserve their power as “angels,” though through sin they have become evil angels; consequently they still are spiritual beings (not human) and have the same powers as they ever had, and as good angels have, except that God has put them under certain limitations and restraints. — 2 Peter 2:4. 

If we trace them through the Scriptures we shall find that these fallen spiritual beings have continually made use of their spiritual–super-natural powers, to lead mankind astray into disobedience of God and injury to themselves. Sometimes it is easily apparent that their works are evil; but most of the time they are very crafty in making their works appear to be for the good, rather than for bad. 

Of course, spiritual beings possess powers greater and higher than humanity. We can see from the statements relative to good angels that they can be present in our midst without our being conscious of their presence. (The angel of Jehovah encamps round about them that reverence him. — Psalm 34:7) (Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister to those who shall be heirs of salvation? — Hebrews 1:14) These have power to appear as or in a flame of fire (The Angel of Jehovah so appeared to Moses in the bush. — Exodus 3:2) or they can and have appeared as men, and as such are called “men”, although they really are not human beings. (Genesis 18:1,2,16,22; 19:1,15) Of this power there are numbers of instances in the Bible. 

Some other powers of angels can be discovered by examining the Biblical record. For instance, the angels who delivered Lot and his family from Sodom, had power to smite the rioters of Sodom with blindness. (Genesis 19:11.) An angel “did wondrously before Manoah;” another performed a miracle before Gideon. (Judges 6:21 and 13-19.) The Angel of Jehovah delivered the Apostles from prison, and yet left the prison doors unmolested; again, an angel delivered Peter from prison; the doors seemingly opened of their own accord. (Acts 5:19-23 and 12:8) On many occasions they made known to men things which were about to come to pass, etc. 

Now, the evil angels, “the devil and his angels,” have by nature the very same powers as originally given to them by Jehovah, but are restrained by Jehovah in what they are allowed to do with those powers. So much of evil as can be overruled for good, and tend to the development of experience and the education and discipline of the “heirs of God”, and for the exercise of the world in the results of evil — is permitted and the remainder restrained, even as the wrath of man is restrained. (Psalm 76:10) An example of God’s restraining what the demons can do is seen in how he dealt with the astrologers (who themselves had been deceived by the “star” into going to Herod. — Matthew 2:1-16) As God through his Spirit and influence works in and through men who give themselves up to His control, so does Satan operate in and through those who are vessels of wrath, and even upon enlightened Christians who yield themselves as instruments of disobedience. (Romans 6:13; 9:22) One cannot be serving two opposing masters at once; he is either the servant of one or the other in what he is doing. (Matthew 6:24; Luke 16:13) “His servants ye are to whom you render service.” (Romans 6:16) As Jesus said to some, “Ye are of your father the devil for his works ye do.” — John 8:44. 

As “God in times past spoke unto the fathers through the prophets,” (Hebrews 1:1) who were His mouthpieces, so Satan spoke through his agents and agencies. His first agent was the serpent which became his agent in his craftily beguiling Eve into disobedience. (Genesis 3:13) He manifested his powers through the magicians and soothsayers of Babylon and remarkably in those of Egypt, where God’s powers were manifested through Moses and Aaron before Pharaoh, while Satan’s powers, of a similar kind, were used to oppose the truth for a time. Here these two spiritual powers were strikingly manifested; both did miracles — things which men alone could not do — but which men possessed of evil and good powers, did do. (Exodus 7:11-22 and 8:7-18) “There were false prophets also among the people,” who evidently spoke by an inspiration, or power in them almost like the real prophets of God; these were the counterfeits. (See 2 Peter 2:1 Jeremiah. 23:21) We are aware that to the worldly mind it seems superstitious to believe that men and women may be so controlled by demons as to be wizards, sorcerers and magicians; but they are recognized as such in the Scriptures, and we believe it. Israel was commanded by Jehovah to put such to death. (Exodus 22:18; Leviticus 20:27, etc) Manasseh, King of Judah made Judah to err; he “used enchantments and used witchcraft and dealt with a familiar spirit and with wizards.” (2 Chronicles 33:6.) Take a concordance and see how much God says against wizards, sorcerers, and “they that have familiar spirits” — mediums of demons for communicating with mankind. It was the claim of these mediums of “familiar spirits” that they held communication with the dead and received their information from them. Thus they supposedly had power bring up the family (familiar) spirits of the dead. In this claim they contradicted the plain statements of God’s word, which assure us that the dead could not furnish any information. (See Job 14:10-21; Ecclesiastes 9:10) Likewise, today, many make this same claim to have ability to communicate with the dead, when in actuality, if they are contacting spirits at all, they are contacting wicked spirits who are impersonating the dead. 

But this was merely another way in which Satan sought to continue the lie imposed upon Eve in Eden. [“He is a liar from the beginning” said Jesus.] God had said that if disobedient they would die; Satan contradicted this statement; claimed that they would become better off if they disobeyed, that they would not die, and thus that God was a liar. Ever since, he seeks to uphold the statement, “You will not be dying to die [literal Hebrew, die, to die].” Full well does he know that if people realized that it was the “spirits of demons” who spoke to them through the mediums they would shun them; hence, the claim that it is dead people (not dead, but more alive than ever) who communicate the information. 

An illustration of this sort, is given in 1 Samuel 28. Saul, King of Israel, had become disobedient to Jehovah, and God would no longer communicate with him through the Prophets. He was engaged in a war with the Philistines, and a great battle was about to be fought. He wanted council and desired to know what would be the outcome. Since Jehovah would not answer him, he sought out one of the condemned and forbidden class, a medium at Endor, a woman who had a wicked spirit.

Most are familiar with the story: (1 Samuel 28:3-20) how that the medium pretends ignorance as to her visitor, knows what Saul desires, gives a description of Samuel, etc. Then follows an account of the coming defeat of Saul’s army and the death of himself and his sons. The fact that these things occurred almost just as foretold by the medium, has been thought by some, to be a proof that Samuel really furnished the information. But, Satan could foretell those things as well as Samuel could were he alive. Not that Satan is a prophet, nor that God reveals coming things to him, but he is a student of God’s word and a believer of it. 

“Devils also believe and tremble.” (James. 2:19) The defeat of Saul and accession of David to the throne had been foretold by the Prophet and both Saul and Satan knew it, and Satan had learned that every word of God’s is sure. Besides we should not forget the words of the apostle that “He that hath the power of death is the devil.” (Hebrew 2:14.) Since he is the executor of the death penalty, and must have the permission to execute from God, (Job 1:12) is it strange that he knew that he was to have power over the lives of Saul, his sons and many others? No, it is the reasonable inference. Certainly we should not for a moment suppose that God (or Samuel if he could) would recognize, or use any means of communication which Jehovah had prohibited on pain of death and condemned as wicked. — Read 1 Chronicles 10:13. 

Coming further down the stream of time, we learn that the same wicked spirits continued to operate in the same manner. Jehovah, while still permitting them, warns the people against such, saying: “They shall say unto you, ‘Seek unto them that have familiar spirits (spirit mediums) and unto wizards that peep and mutter.’ (But) should not a people seek unto their God? For [why should] the living [go] to the dead? To the law and to the testimony, [the Bible], if they speak not according to this Word it is because there is no light in them.” (Isaiah 8:19,20) God warns people not to believe any one whose teachings are contrary to the Word, no matter what powers they may exercise — even if they come in his name. — Deuteronomy 18:20; Jeremiah 14:14. 

Coming down to the days of Jesus and the apostles we find that Satan still operated in much the same manner, as well as a variety of other ways. Jesus did not receive his power through ceremonial magic, witchcraft, or by disobedient spirits, but from the his Father, through God’s holy [dedicated, set-apart] spirit. (Matthew 4:1; 12:18,28; Mark 1:8; Luke 1:15; 4:1,14,18; 5:17 10:21; John 1:33; 3:34; Acts 2:22) He did cast out wicked spirits. When the Jewish leaders accused him of having an “unclean spirit”, and of casting out spirits by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons (Mark 3:30) , Jesus responded: “But if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out?” (Luke 11:19) Here he implied that their “sons” were the ones who cast out demons by Beelzebul. Later he plainly told the Jewish leaders: “You are of your Father, the devil.” (John 8:44) Thus he gives evidence to the source of their works. 

Among the more notable instances [not to mention the numerous cases of casting out of devils, etc., by both Jesus and the disciples] we might remind you of the experience of Philip and Peter with Simon the sorcerer (Acts 8:7-9-24.) “Unclean spirits crying with loud voice came out of many that were possessed; … but there was a certain man named Simon which…used sorcery and bewitched the people … to whom they all gave heed … saying, This man is the great power (medium) of God.” Thus did Satan use his power to delude the people. 

Paul and Barnabas had an experience with another of these mediums of the devil named Elymas, who withstood them. Paul, addressing him, said: “O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of Jehovah?” (Acts 13:10.) And he was blinded immediately. Again Paul and Silas met a female medium at Phillippi. “A certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination … which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying.” But Paul “turned and said to the [unclean] spirit I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.” — Acts 16:16. 

And so ever since, Satan has kept up his practices with various changes of method to suit the circumstances; sometimes with characteristic devilishness, at other times in the garb of religion, “For Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light, therefore it is no great thing if his ministers [mediums] also be transformed as ministers of righteousness.” (2 Corinthians 11:14.) In our day when knowledge is so great, and morality (often confused with “Christianity”) so popular in some circles, Satan must if he would continue to oppose truth, take the religious cloak; and so he does. Today spiritualism ranks itself among the religious sects. [“The synagogue [church] of Satan,” truly.] 

Spiritualism though refined and modernized is yet the same that it ever was, in ages past. Its object is not the inculcation of truth, nor of love for God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. They often claim that Jesus was a fine medium and taught and used spiritualism in His day as well as He understood it. They often do not outwardly profess to oppose the Bible and its teachings, but they do so really, both teaching and practicing the very things therein condemned and still seeking to prove by their enchantments that men are not dead, thus endeavoring to uphold Satan’s first falsehood. — Genesis 3:4. 

They still possess supernatural powers, too, just as in the days of Saul and Paul and Moses, etc. While we do not question that some of the things claimed to be done by them are mere human tricks, yet we know that there are many things done by them where no such trickery was possible. Among those who believe in “this way” (Acts 9:2; 22:4) are several who once were mediums of the devil and did “those things whereof they are now ashamed.” (Romans 6:21) These, when coming to a knowledge of the truth, are thankful for their escape from that “snare of the devil.” (1 Timothy 3:7) Spiritualism hates the light and their wonders are done under cover of their favorite principle — darkness. Their work of proselyting, too, is dark, covered — secret. Jesus gives us a word of wisdom on this subject. “Every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light lest his deeds should be reproved.” — John 3:20. 

Though working stealthily, their numbers are large and embrace many of the influential of earth. Thoughts of witchcraft and magic are implanted early in the minds of the young through various kinds of media, including even the public classroom. While it often presented as fantasy, yet many start from this fantasy to actual use of demonic power to produce healings, find lost things, find mates, etc. It is coming before people in a way that commands attention, and those who do not realize it to be the work of Satan are almost sure to regard it as a power of God. 

Joseph Cook, justly celebrated for his able defense of the Bible and its author, God, against the attacks of Atheists and Infidels, such as Huxley, Darwin, Arnold, et. al., had his attention aroused to the recognition of the growing influence of “Spiritualism,” and having investigated the subject to some extent he once delivered a lecture on the subject, in which he expressed his belief that many of their tricks and performances, are performed by no human power and are actually supernatural. He did not pretend to say how, or by what power, but claimed that not only himself but some of the profoundest scientific minds of Germany had reached the conclusion that Spiritualism cannot be condemned as false by any scientific tests yet applied to it. 

Nor is this power of Spiritualism difficult to account for if we take the Bible as our authority and recognize it as the work of Satan, whom Jesus designates “The prince of this world.” (John 14:30) “The prince of the power of the air (spiritual power) the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.” (Ephesians 2:2) And the same book is our authority for saying that “Spiritualism” has not yet reached the climax of its power; its powers are to increase wonderfully. Paul says, (1 Timothy 4:1), “Now the Spirit [of God] speaketh expressly that in the latter times some [who one walked in the way] shall depart from the faith giving heed to seducing [deceiving] spirits and doctrines of devils.” Jesus says, “They are the spirits of devils working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the whole world to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.” — Rev. 16:14. 

These disobedient angels once materialized human-like bodies and married the daughters of men. We notice that since that day, they have been so restrained, that only obedient angels have been able to materialize in human-like bodies. Thus the wicked spirits since their debasement have appeared or worked as “phantoms”, by means of possession, thought-influence, or through “mediums”. 

Peter (2:4) and Jude (6) tell us, that when cast out of God’s presence as evil angels, they were bound by “chains of darkness” “unto the judgment of the great day.” Many scriptures have shown us that the closing part of the Gospel age is to be upon the living a time of trial and trouble preparing them for the coming Millennial reign of Christ, and is called “the day of Jehovah” — “the great day” — “the great day of His wrath,” etc. We understand, then, that Satan and his angels have been limited that they might not appear physically except through human beings who become “possessed of devils” or became his “mediums.” They have thus been confined or chained. The prophecies indicate, however, that in the last days these wicked spirits will be more active than ever before, and God’s wrath would allow them more freedom to show their deceptive works and influence upon mankind, to the point that mankind might be greater deceived thereby (2 Thessalonians 2:10-12), while at the same time knowledge is increased more rapidly than ever before in history bringing more trouble (Daniel 12:4; 2 Timothy 3:1-7), yet God’s truth is fallen onto the streets to be trampled upon. – Isaiah 59:14. 

The facts correspond to this exactly. “Spiritualism” — in all its forms: neo-paganism, witchcraft, scientology, ufo-ism, etc., claims that they are having more power to show their wonders daily, and many claim now that these spirits can make appearances — not only in the dark — but in broad daylight. 

The trial of this day is not only a day of trouble and distress among nations, but it includes a trouble or fire upon the living phase of the church. For all the errors of human traditions shall be consumed as dross, wood, hay, stubble, in the fire (trial) of this day. The apostle says, “Think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which shall try you (the church) as though some strange [unforetold] thing happened unto you.” (1 Peter 4:12.) For the fire of that day shall try every man’s work of what sort it is: “He that hath built [his faith] with gold, silver and precious stones [the truths of God’s word] the same shall remain. (His faith will not be destroyed.) But if any man build with wood, hay, stubble, (the teachings and creeds of man — under the influence of the lying spirits) the same shall suffer loss, &c. (1 Corinthians 3:12-15) This trial is “the trial of your faith” and in this “day of Jehovah” not only does the light of truth shine strongly and beautifully, showing us the great prize of our high calling as we never saw it before; revealing to us the present king, who causes us to sup with Him and feeds us with His truth which is, “food in due season,” giving strength needed in this day; but it is also a day for the increase of the powers of evil, that the separation between the wheat and tares (the children of the kingdom and the children of the wicked one. — Matthew 13:38) may be complete. 

Because of this struggle between truth and error, the power of God and the power of Satan, etc., Paul says, “My brethren, be strong in Jehovah and the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against the flesh and blood [not against human beings, but against evil spiritual beings] but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness, of this world, (Satan –the prince of this world. John 12:31) against spiritual wickedness in high (controlling) places. 

Wherefore, [on this account] take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand [the spiritual wickedness – -the devil’s wiles] in the evil day [this day of the Lord’s presence {parousia} — day of trial.] … Stand, therefore, having your loins girt about with truth and having on the breastplate of righteousness, etc. — Ephesians 6:11. 

This same day of trial is referred to in Psalm 91, where only those who have made God’s truth their shield and buckler [support] are able to withstand the snares of the devil, the arrows of infidelity and the moral pestilence of Spiritualism. While thousands shall fall at their side. 

God does not approve of the works of the world’s wise men, magi, magicians, sorcerers, etc. The wise men — who were misguided by their spiritualism — were deceived by a demon-inspired star — shining in the sky — not directly to Bethlehem, but to Herod, so that Herod could kill the promised seed. God did intervene to thwart Satan’s designs, but this does not mean that God approved of the religious practices of these magi. 

All over the world we find these demons performing works of healing, speaking in tongues, and various forms of miracles, making themselves appear to be good guides, while they are actually in opposition to the one true God — Jehovah. Usually their mediums are commonly “moral” people, seeking to do what is good in their eyes, or in the eyes of their neighbors, but this does not mean that they have not been deceived by these wicked spirits. 

Nevertheless, the Christian, who wishes to be separate from Satan’s world (John 15:19; 17:14, Galatians 1:4) should be desirous of pleasing the God and Father of the Lord Jesus (Romans 5:6; Colossians 1:10; 1 Thessalonians 4:1), and in obeying his wishes as close as possible in all things. The command given to the children of Israel is still applicable to the Christian: “There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or a charmer or a medium or a wizard or a necromancer, for whoever does these things is an abomination to [Jehovah].” – Deuteronomy 18:10-12. – English Standard Version 

Did Jesus practice any of these forms crafty knowledge? In one instance, Jesus spat in the dirt and then rubbed his saliva mixed with the dirt over a man’s eyes, and the man could then see (John 9:6). At another time, he simply touched a man to clean him of leprosy. (Luke 5:13) Of the ten lepers, he only ask that they obey a simply command. (Luke 17:12-14). He did not do things according ceremonial magic or technique. He relied on, and was submissive to his God who had sent him. (John 8:28-29; Deuteronomy 18:15-19) He performed many miracles, but the manner often varied. There was no ceremonial magic, or consultation of spirit mediums, or any thing of the sort. Jesus did not do miracles on demand, but only when he was led by his God through God’s spirit to do so. 

Jesus performed miracles in obedience to, and out of love for the only true God, Jehovah. What many do not realize is that one cannot serve the only true God, and serve the gods of the heathen. Yet in witchcraft, although the name of Jehovah or of Jesus may be called upon, often the names of heathen gods are often also called upon. The Bible nowhere speaks of a goddess, except as that term may be applied to the female gods of the heathen, which Jehovah’s people were told not to have any relationship with.