Ezekiel 13:18: “and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Woe to the women who sew magic charms on their sleeves and make veils for the heads of people of every height to hunt souls! Will you hunt the souls of My people, and keep yourselves alive?’”

December 8th, 2024 by Pastor Ed in devotional

The women God was rebuking in this passage are women who claimed to be prophesying but were in fact involved in what we would today call black magic or the occult. The description of them is similar to our modern-day idea of fortunetellers, with their elaborate flowing veils and occult associated jewelry. Ezekiel was told to announce God’s judgment on these women who were hunting for the souls of God’s people. This is a powerful image of how they were using black magic to trap people and bring them under their power, ultimately leading them astray from the truth of God. Engaging in magic or spiritism is an open act of rebellion against God, as one tries to take over the place, authority, and power of God, attempting to gain spiritual knowledge through means other than what Scripture allows. God’s truth is the only way to live our lives here on earth and not die eternally.

Jesus pointed out the importance of the soul when He asked, “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matt. 16:26). One of the most enticing and manipulative snares of the occult today, and possibly what the women in Ezekiel’s day were doing, is trying to contact people’s deceased loved ones. The only way to see our departed loved ones again is to follow Jesus Christ and reunite with them in the Kingdom of God in eternity.

How careful we must be to avoid anything that could bring us into bondage to the kingdom of darkness. There is no such thing as innocent fun when it comes to sorcery. Ouija boards, tarot card reading, palm reading, and horoscopes, all seek power from a source other than God. So what should a new believer do when they come to Christ and remember that they have these items of sorcery in their home? They should do exactly what the new believers in Acts did: “Also, many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all” (19:19).

“LORD, the only power we desire to be active in our lives is the power of Your Holy Spirit.”