Fleeing Idolatry, Witchcraft, and Superstition:
A Call to Devotion and Freedom
(Part 2 of a lesson on the first commandment, given to the Karen Zoom class on April 15, 2021)Idolatry: Putting Anything Above God
Idolatry is more than bowing to statues or worshipping false gods; it’s about misplaced priorities. Any time we elevate something—money, power, relationships, or even ourselves—above God, we are engaging in idolatry. As believers, we are called to flee from such practices and ensure that our ultimate allegiance is to the one true God.
Witchcraft: A Forbidden Path
The Bible speaks extensively against witchcraft, which encompasses a wide array of practices rooted in seeking power or knowledge apart from God. Deuteronomy 18:9-13 warns God’s people not to engage in witchcraft or divination, as these practices are detestable to him. King Manasseh’s use of sorcery and consulting with the dead (2 Chronicles 33:6) serves as a cautionary tale of the spiritual destruction that follows such disobedience.
Examples of Forbidden Practices:
- Astrology: Seeking guidance from stars and planets rather than God.
- Consulting the Dead: Attempting to contact spirits for advice or comfort.
- Omen Interpretation: Assigning significance to events like animal movements, natural disasters, or even hiccups as signs of good or bad fortune.
Other prohibitions against witchcraft are found in Leviticus 19:26, 31; Leviticus 20:6; and Isaiah 8:18-20. In the New Testament, we see examples of witchcraft’s futility and God’s power prevailing: Simon the Sorcerer’s misguided desire for the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:9-24), Elymas the magician opposing Paul (Acts 13:4-12), and believers burning their books of magic after encountering the Gospel (Acts 19:19).
Witchcraft seeks to manipulate the spiritual realm out of fear or control. However, Scripture calls us to trust God completely, knowing he alone has the power and wisdom we need.
Superstition: Fear Disguised as Faith
Superstition may seem harmless—carrying a lucky charm, avoiding black cats, worrying about the day you were born, or under which Zodiac—but it stems from the same root as witchcraft: fear and distrust in God’s sovereignty. For instance, the nursery poem, “Monday’s child is fair of face,” etc., is meant as a playful poem, but it reflects superstitious beliefs that days of the week dictate our destiny. Scripture reminds us that “This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24). Every day, whether joyful or challenging, is ordained by God (Psalm 139:16), and we need not live in fear of luck or fate.
Freedom in Christ
As believers, we have been set free from the futility of idolatry, witchcraft, and superstition. 1 Peter 1:18 reminds us that we were redeemed from an empty way of life with the precious blood of Christ. Our days, our lives, and our futures are in his hands.
Instead of relying on the supernatural through forbidden means, we are called to trust in God’s goodness and sovereignty. The Bible’s examples of loyalty to God—like Elijah on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18:16-45) or Joshua’s declaration, “Choose this day whom you will serve” (Joshua 24:15)—show us the joy and power of wholehearted devotion.
A Call to Loyalty
Ultimately, rejecting idolatry, witchcraft, and superstition is about turning to the one true God. It’s about confessing, like the prophet Isaiah foretold, “I am the Lord’s” (Isaiah 44:5). It’s about trusting in him alone, as Jeremiah wrote: “Blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him” (Jeremiah 17:7).
Birthdays, signs, and circumstances are not what define us. Instead, we celebrate life, knowing God loves us and has a purpose for every day he has ordained.
May we live with unwavering trust in the LORD, rejecting fear and embracing the freedom found in Christ. Choose today to serve him fully—and experience the peace that comes from a life firmly rooted in his truth.
