Oh My Stars!

Facebook is a convenient way to stay in touch with friends, reconnect with old ones and meet new people. It’s also provided me an outlet to minister to numerous folks at once plus share evangelism testimonies. But just like any other technological tool, Facebook can be used for ungodly purposes.

I’ve noticed a few friends posting horoscopes on their Facebook pages. Perhaps some of them are ignorant of what the Bible says regarding astrology and the occult. That’s why it’s important to read the word of God. There are numerous warnings about seeking counsel from astrologers and fortunetellers. Here are a few of them…

“And the person who turns to mediums and familiar spirits, to prostitute himself with them, I will set My face against that person and cut him off from his people.” - Leviticus 20:6

“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, or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. 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

“You are wearied in the multitude of your counsels; let now the astrologers, the stargazers, and the monthly prognosticators stand up and save you from what shall come upon you. Behold, they shall be as stubble, the fire shall burn them; They shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame; It shall not be a coal to be warmed by, nor a fire to sit before!” - Isaiah 47:13-14

While Satan has some supernatural power, it is inferior to God’s. Look at Daniel 2…

27 Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, “The secret which the king has demanded, the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, and the soothsayers cannot declare to the king. 
28 But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days. 

Daniel then went on to interpret the king’s dream.

Some may argue the wise men in Matthew 2 were astrologers since a star led them to Jesus. The Lord can use physical objects to guide us. License plates from a particular state often appear at peculiar times whenever He wants me traveling somewhere. But that’s usually to confirm direction already given me. If we depend too much on outside circumstances for guidance and not the Holy Spirit, the devil can manipulate things to deceive us. That’s why it’s best not to put out “fleeces” when seeking divine direction. Romans 8:14 says, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.”

Christians who think reading horoscopes is just harmless fun should recall the woman in Acts 16 who had a spirit of divination…

16 Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling. 
17 This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.” 
18 And this she did for many days. But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And he came out that very hour.

So if you have been dabbling in horoscopes or other occult activities, I urge you to stop!  Ephesians 4:27 commands us to give no place to the devil. We also don't want to be doing things that might cause other young believers to stumble. Instead of looking to the stars for guidance, people should look to the One who created the stars.

“And take heed, lest you lift your eyes to heaven, and when you see the sun, the moon, and the stars, all the host of heaven, you feel driven to worship them and serve them, which the LORD your God has given to all the peoples under the whole heaven as a heritage.” - Deuteronomy 4:19

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