Welcome
Welcome
🎙️

Christian Fantasy: Magic vs. Miracles

Season
Season 2
Episode Number
90
Release Date
September 2, 2020
Tags
DeuteronomyMagic and Witchcraft
Welcome
Welcome
📁
Table of Contents
10 There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, 11 or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. 12 For all who do these things are an abomination to the Lord, and because of these abominations the Lord your God drives them out from before you. Deuteronomy 18:10-12 NKJV

What is the difference between magic and a miracle?

By modern definition, the difference is that a miracle is improbable, but not impossible. Magic is usually something that is impossible (or an illusion).

There are lots of things that we could be worried about right now, and with good reason. However, now is the time to focus on the good, focus on our relationship with God, and not cling to the world.

Bible Verses

Here are a few verses on sorcery and magic versus miracles in the Bible. This is not a complete list.

on Sorcery and Magic

on Miracles

20 And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment: 21 For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole. 22 But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.

Matthew 9:20-22 KJV

Common Threads

  • Many of the words translated to magic or sorcery reference necromancy and potions or spells (see definitions below).
    • φαρμακεύς (pharmakeus) is often translated to sorcery and basically means drugs (this is where we get the word pharmacy)
    • communication with the dead oversteps Christ's earned victory over death
  • Every miracle is attributed God
    • nothing is done of a human's own doing
    • prayer and fasting are usually involved
  • So, what's the difference?
    • From the beginning God established a boundary concerning knowledge
    • This type of knowledge is taking matters in to your own hand attempting to do things without God
    • Satan tempted mankind to take of the fruit from the tree of knowledge to "be like God"
    • Receiving vision from God (e.g., Joseph) is different than relying on a crystal ball or a drug induced state
    • Healing in the name of God is different than superstitious remedies (or "potions")

Definitions About Magic and Sorcery

🗣
DEFFINITION

[1] אוֹב

noun

  1. water skin bottle
  2. necromancer a: necromancer, one who evokes the dead b: ghost, spirit of a dead onec: practice of necromancy
  3. one that has a familiar spirit
🗣
DEFINITION

[2] יִדְעֹנִי

noun

  1. a knower, one who has a familiar spirita: a familiar spirit, soothsayer, necromancer (meton)
  2. (by implication) a ghost:—wizard

🗣
DEFINITION

[3] כָּשַׁף

verb

  1. to practice witchcraft or sorcery, use witchcraft a: sorcerer, sorceress (participle)

🗣
DEFINITION

[4] עָנַן

verb

  1. to make appear, produce, bring (clouds)
  2. to practise soothsaying, conjurea: to observe times, practice soothsaying or spiritism or magic or augury or witchcraftb: soothsayer, enchanter, sorceress, diviner, fortuneteller, barbarian, Meonenim (participle)
🗣
DEFINITION

[5] עָנָחַשׁ

verb

  1. to practice divination, divine, observe signs, learn by experience, diligently observe, practice fortunetelling, take as an omen a: to practice divination b: to observe the signs or omens
🗣
DEFINITION

[6] קֶסֶם

noun

  1. divination, witchcraft a: of the nations, Balaam b: of false prophets c: in a good sense (king's lips as oracles)
🗣
DEFINITION

περίεργος[7]

noun

  1. busy about trifles and neglectful of important matters a: esp. busy about other folks' affairs, a busybody  i. of things: impertinent and superfluous  ii. of magic arts

🗣
DEFINITION

φαρμακεύς[8]

noun

  1. one who prepares or uses magical remedies
  2. sorcerer
  3. (a drug, i.e. spell-giving potion); a druggist ("pharmacist") or poisoner, i.e. (by extension) a magician:—sorcerer.

References and Footnotes

  1. "Strong's H178: אוֹב". Blue Letter Bible; August 31, 2020
  2. "Strong's H3049: יִדְעֹנִי". Blue Letter Bible; August 31, 2020
  3. "Strong's H3784: כָּשַׁף". Blue Letter Bible; August 31, 2020
  4. "Strong's H6049: עָנַן". Blue Letter Bible; August 31, 2020
  5. "Strong's H5172: עָנָחַשׁ". Blue Letter Bible; August 31, 2020
  6. "Strong's H7081: קֶסֶם". Blue Letter Bible; August 31, 2020
  7. "Strong's G4021: περίεργος". Blue Letter Bible; August 31, 2020
  8. "Strong's G5332: φαρμακεύς". Blue Letter Bible; August 31, 2020
🙏🏽
PSALMS to God is a blog, podcast, and YouTube channel that discusses many topics and issues, always keeping YHWH as the anchor. Hosea 4:6 says “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge”—here, the aim is to always ask questions and study to find the answers. You can keep up with new content by signing up for the weekly newsletter.

image