Throughout history people have used a lot of bizarre methods to tell the future. Below are a selection of some of the strangest.
Belomancy - divination by arrows.
Gyromancy - divination by walking in a circle until the subject falls over from dizziness.
Onomancy: divination from the letters of a name
As Christians we should be especially careful with bibliomancy. Opening a Bible to a random page and picking a verse is not how we find the wisdom of God. The Holy Spirit illuminates (opens our eyes to) the Scripture as we study passages in context with care.
In bibliomancy:
“You can open any book to a random page and decide that the first thing your eyes land on is a message that pertains to your future: instant bibliomancy. Bibliomancy is especially practiced with sacred books, such as the Bible, but we like to use a dictionary.” (Merriam-Webster)
We may laugh at these examples. However, any time that we turn our eyes off the Lord and seek after hidden knowledge or power, we are foolish. We all want to know what will happen in the future. Astrology, divination, horoscopes, and tarot cards do not predict the future and can lead us astray. On the other hand, Yahweh, the Triune God, knows what has ever happened, what is happening, and will happen.
Strengthen your relationships, learn how to manage stress, and stop wasting time reading horoscopes, advises clinical psychologist and author Terence Sandbek, PhD. "One of the hallmarks of mental and emotional maturity is being able to run your own life and make your own decisions," he tells WebMD. He suggests time spent on horoscopes could be better spent on tools with a real record of helping people improve their lives.
On the other hand, Yahweh masters time and space. Fulfilled prophecy is one reason we know God knows the future.
A writer for Christian Premier Radio argued that King David had a specific prophecy fulfilled by Jesus.
“Thousands of years ago, King David of Israel wrote one of the most specific and remarkable prophecies in history. Contained in the Psalms (the ancient Hebrew scriptures of the Bible), it describes one man's harrowing and torturous execution.
Read through the prophecy below and ask yourself who and what is this describing?
Dogs surround me, a pack of villains encircles me; they pierce my hands and my feet. All my bones are on display; people stare and gloat over me. They divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment. Psalm 22:16-18
At first glance, most people would say it's referring to the crucifixion of Jesus. But what you might be surprised to discover is that this prophecy was written 1,000 years before Jesus was born and centuries before crucifixion was even invented.
As former atheist and author of the New York Times bestseller The Case for Christ, Lee Strobel declares, "The description of the crucifixion in the ancient Hebrew writings takes place before crucifixion was even implemented as a method of torture and death by the Romans."
Distinguished Professor of Religion at Liberty University, Ed Hindson, also affirms, "When David wrote Psalm 22 crucifixion hadn't even been invented yet. It hadn't even been thought of."
Jesus fulfilled over 300 prophecies all written at least 400 years before His birth. There is a staggering amount of evidence that the Biblical writers, inspired by the Holy Spirit, accurately foretold the future.
Trust in the Lord: Father, Son, and Spirit. God not only knows the future, he actively works all around us for His glory. God has given many promises of future blessing and His protection.
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10
What causes you anxiety? What do you fear? The 66 books of the Bible are evidence for why we should trust God and not fear. Do not fear (and other similar statements) is the most common command by the Lord in Scripture.
For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7
We all have the emotion of fear but the Lord calls on us to not let that emotion master us. Be at peace. Think on the wonderful promises of God. Know that Jesus is with all who believe in this life and in the future life. God will create a new heaven and a new earth. The Lord loves you.
Nathan
