Fortune Telling

The Bible perspective to fortune telling.

A dear friend asked what the Bible says about fortune telling and here is the response. We pray that this shall be a guide to you too.

Fortune telling is definitely not of God. In fact it is detestable to God. We thought it best to give you some background about fortune telling so you can understand it better.

What is fortune telling?

Fortune telling or divination, as it is sometimes referred to, is the art or practice of forecasting the future or making predictions about the future. This is done by means that is displeasing to God and includes the use of ouija boards, crystal balls, horoscopes, astrology, telepathy, palm-reading, clairvoyancy, kabala (Jewish mysticism), tarot and other card readings, etc. A person who practices fortune telling is either referred to as a fortune teller or a diviner.

What does the Bible say about fortune telling?

In Deuteronomy 18:9-13, the Bible says When you enter the land the LORD your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spirits or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD, and because of these detestable practices the LORD your God will drive out those nations before you. You must be blameless before the LORD your God.

Why must Believers stay away from fortune telling?

First and foremost, God says these practices are detestable to Him. Therefore, engaging in such practices is against the will of God, in fact it is disobedience. Anything contrary to the will of God is of the wicked one, satan and we are not to engage in such practices.

People who go to fortune tellers are not trusting God. They are anxious and worried about their future. They want to know what the future holds for them and want to take their future into their own hands. They do not believe that God can take care of them and their future. They do not understand that only God knows the end from the beginning and only He has the power to keep us.

We need not be anxious about the future. We only need to trust in Jesus and we will be at peace. The Bible tells us “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus”. He has also promised that He will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Him (Isaiah 26:3).

Fortune tellers will take your money and take you out of the will of God. Going to fortune tellers is a sin. Our future is in God’s hands and if we let Him, He will take care of us and our future. We are to remember His promise that the plans He has for us are for good and not of evil to give us a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11). He has also promised that He will order the steps of the righteous.

What to do if you have engaged in such practices

Believers who have indulged in these wicked practices must confess, ask God for forgiveness and desist from participating in fortune telling in the future. In Bible days, those who had engaged in such practices brought the materials they used and burnt them in public view.

Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed their evil deeds. 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. In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power (Acts 19:18-19).

It is our prayer that God will grant you wisdom as you share this with your friends. May God grant them a repentant teachable spirit to hear the Word of God and a willing heart to obey it in Jesus Mighty Name, Amen.

God bless you,