What the Bible says about fortune tellers and crystal readers:
- Lev 19:26 … You shall not interpret omens or tell fortunes.
- Lev 19:31 NET. Do not turn to the spirits of the dead and do not seek familiar spirits to become unclean by them. I am the LORD your God.
- Lev 20:6 If a person turns to mediums and necromancers, whoring after them, I will set my face against that person and will cut him off from among his people.
- Deu 18:10-12 There shall not be found among you anyone … who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer (11) or a charmer or a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead, (12) for whoever does these things is an abomination to the LORD.
You say these people mention Daniel, presumably to justify their involvement in fortune telling etc, but Daniel had nothing to do with this sort of thing. Daniel was a prophet of God, not a charlatan who deceived people in an attempt to make them part with their money. A quick reading of the relevant passages in Daniel, make the distinction between the Babylonish astrologers and Daniel, very plain. Look at the passage where King Nebuchadnezzar summons the “wise men” to tell and interpret his dream –
Dan 2:2-11 Then the king commanded that the magicians, the enchanters, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans be summoned to tell the king his dreams. So they came in and stood before the king. (3) And the king said to them, “I had a dream, and my spirit is troubled to know the dream.” (4) Then the Chaldeans said to the king in Aramaic, “O king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation.” (5) The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, “The word from me is firm: if you do not make known to me the dream and its interpretation, you shall be torn limb from limb, and your houses shall be laid in ruins. (6) But if you show the dream and its interpretation, you shall receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor. Therefore show me the dream and its interpretation.” (7) They answered a second time and said, “Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will show its interpretation.” (8) The king answered and said, “I know with certainty that you are trying to gain time, because you see that the word from me is firm– (9) if you do not make the dream known to me, there is but one sentence for you. You have agreed to speak lying and corrupt words before me till the times change. Therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that you can show me its interpretation.” (10) The Chaldeans answered the king and said, “There is not a man on earth who can meet the king’s demand, for no great and powerful king has asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or Chaldean. (11) The thing that the king asks is difficult, and no one can show it to the king except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.”
We see that Nebuchadnezzar was less gullible than some and tested the validity of these supposed wise men by insisting they tell him his dream. If they could do this, he could trust their interpretation. The “wise men” admitted that no one can do such a thing. In other words, they were frauds.
Daniel prayed to God for help to reveal to the king his dream and the interpretation. God heard Daniel’s prayer. Read what Daniel replied to Nebuchadnezzar:
Dan 2:26-28 The king declared to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, “Are you able to make known to me the dream that I have seen and its interpretation?” (27) Daniel answered the king and said, “No wise men, enchanters, magicians, or astrologers can show to the king the mystery that the king has asked, (28) but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries
You also mention that this fortune teller opens her reading with a prayer to God. Just because she prays to God, does not mean that God reveals anything to her. Consider the following verses:
Pro 1:28-33 ESV Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently but will not find me. (29) Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD, (30) would have none of my counsel and despised all my reproof, (31) therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way, and have their fill of their own devices. (32) For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacency of fools destroys them; (33) but whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.”
This fortune teller is doing something totally opposed to what God commands – saying a prayer in this situation is meaningless. She would do well to follow the example of the converts to Christianity in the 1st century, who had previously engaged in similar practices:
Act 19:18-19 Also many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices. (19) And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all.
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