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Richard Agee discusses one of the most precious promises of the Torah, found in Deuteronomy 18. A prophet like Moses — Messiah — would come and reveal God in a more intimate way. However, we must not seek divine knowledge by other means — divination.
Food for thought
- To whom was Deuteronomy 18 directed originally?
- What does an “offering made to the LORD by fire” in Deut. 18:1 mean?
- Deuteronomy 16-17 concerned the observance of the moedim (Hebrew for “appointed times,” i.e., “feasts of the LORD”). How do these celebrations compare to the practices listed in Deut. 18:10-11?
- What is the “whoredom” or “prostitution” in Ez. 16:20-21? (See also 2 Kings 17:17 and Jer. 19:5.)
- How does this “infidelity” answer the common accusation people make about the accounts of God’s telling Israel to conquer Canaan, often by wiping out the inhabitants?
- What is divination?
- Why has the apostle Yochanan (John) been called John the Divine? How is this related to the method of how the visions came to him as recorded in the book of Revelation?
- What is the physical motion that is connected with divination? How is this related to horoscopes? Why have people throughout time worshiped the sun, moon, and stars?
- How does the Hebrew meaning of the word translated as “sorcerer” differ from the Greek meaning, as found in the Apostolic Writings? (See also Ex. 7:11 and Daniel 2.)
- How many methods of supernatural contacts are mentioned in Deut. 18:10-11?
- How many “powers” were defeated before the exodus of Israel from Egypt before God sent the Destroyer angel?
- When God stopped talking to King Saul directly or through prophets, the king went to a witch to conjure up the dead prophet Sh’muel (Samuel) (1 Samuel 28). Many say this incident proves that the soul continues on after the death of the body because the “spirit” (literally, elohim or “powerful one” in Hebrew) correctly predicted Saul’s death. What does Deut. 13:1-2 teach about consulting accurate seers who use means that God forbids?
- Given the context of the command not to consult sources of knowledge other than God in Deut. 18:10-11, why is the prediction of the great prophet in Deut. 18:15-18 so important?
- What is happening with modern society in its pushing away from God? How does this explain the increasing fascination with paganism, the occult, and spiritism?
- How do we know that Yeshua (Jesus) is the Messiah predicted in this chapter (see Deut. 18:21-22)? What was the greatest event Yeshua predicted would happen?