Deuteronomy 18:11
“or a charmer, or a consulter with a familiar spirit, or a wizard, or a necromancer.”
What does Deuteronomy 18:11 mean?
This verse continues a list of practices God told the Israelites to reject, specifically those involving consulting with spirits or the dead. In the ancient world, people believed they could contact deceased loved ones or gain hidden knowledge through mediums and other practitioners, and many communities turned to these figures for guidance or comfort. God called his people away from this because he wanted them to trust him directly rather than seeking answers from other spiritual sources. The underlying message is that there are better ways to seek wisdom and guidance than through practices rooted in fear, deception, or turning away from God. For people today, this can speak to where we place our trust when we're confused or hurting, and whether we're looking to God or to other sources that might lead us astray.