The following "Question" was asked by a member of the congregation at Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, and "Answered" by their pastor, John MacArthur Jr. It was transcribed by Barbara Swanson of Batesville, Arkansas, from the tape, GC 1301-F, titled "Bible Questions and Answers Part 8."  A copy of the tape can be obtained by writing, Word of Grace, P.O. Box 4000, Panorama City, CA 91412 or by dialing toll free 1-800-55-GRACE. ©1977. All Rights Reserved.

Question

What does the Bible say about divining rods?

Answer

Now, I don’t know if you know what a divining rod is, but it’s a stick that has been used in past history to find water. This is a very ancient custom, and just a couple of weeks ago, somebody asked me if I thought it was alright because this person’s father or uncle had hired somebody with a divining rod. You hold two ends of it—it’s like a wishbone—you hold two ends of it and the pointed end will take you to water, supposedly.

What does the Bible say about divining rods, or as it’s called in its scientific term: "radiesthesie"? Well, it does say something, believe it or not: Deuteronomy chapter 18, verse 10. And of course the Lord is talking to the children of Israel, warning them that when they enter the land of Israel they’re going to run into all kinds of strange religious customs, and He tells them that these things are an abomination and that they’re not to be involved with them at all. And in verse 10, He says, “There shall not be found among you”--that is when you enter the land, of course, and you mingle with the people, the potential is there, but the abominations of the nations you’re to avoid, “not be found among you anyone who makes his son or daughter pass through the fire”--and that was a custom of those who worshiped the god Molech, to pass their children through the fire, “or who useth divination or an observer of times”--that would be an astrologer, incidentally--astrological charts are forbidden in scripture—“or an enchanter, or a witch, or a charmer, or a consulter of mediums, or a wizard, or a necromancer.” Now you have various terms we’re not going to take the time to point out, but the word divination in verse 10 has to do with this idea of divining, that is trying to find something through a divine contact, and that is forbidden.

In Hosea chapter four and verse 12, we read this: “My people ask counsel of their idols”—now listen—“and their staff declareth unto them.” Now "staff" there does not mean like the "staff" of the church, it means a divining rod. They literally consult a divining rod. And here he is speaking about their idolatry, and of course it’s a forbidden thing to consult a divining rod. Now the reason is simple: because you are entering the world of mediums and demons. Demons get their wishes and their will through all of the various methods mentioned in Deuteronomy 18, and divining rods is simply a way that you release your mind to an outside power, much like a Ouija board, and demonic control can be the result. And so it’s a forbidden thing, and it has been ever since the time of Israel.

Added to Bible Bulletin Board's "MacArthur’s Questions and Answers" by:

Tony Capoccia
Bible Bulletin Board
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