Va’era: Relationship, Trust, and Holy Resistance to the Occult
Why am I here? Many answers could be offered, but the one that fits me—and, I believe, every person—is that G-d created us. He created us for relationship with Himself.
Why did the Creator of everything want a relationship with us? Because G-d is love. His essence is love. His nature is love. He gave us free will so we could freely accept—or reject—His love. The Source of all reality wants a relationship with you.
A relationship is built on trust. Both parties honor one another, give the benefit of the doubt, and help each other grow in the light of G-d’s truth. HaShem not only desires relationship with each one of us; He also desires that we cultivate holy relationships with one another—delivering His goodness into the world, imitating His attributes, and growing closer to Him.
Our relationships should reflect this: to imitate our Father by becoming His “arms and legs” in this realm—encouraging one another toward Him by word and deed. This is the heart of His plan to save the world and reconcile people to Himself and to each other. By contrast, seeking magic, sorcery, divination, occultism, witchcraft, wizardry, necromancy, enchantment, or spiritualism is spiritual adultery.
Definitions that Clarify the Discussion
Magic: the supposed use of supernatural power to influence events or control human actions or nature.
Occultism: belief in hidden forces that can be accessed or manipulated through specific rituals or practices.
Divination: practices attempting to uncover hidden significance or foretell the future through signs, omens, or techniques.
Where It Began: Eden’s False Promise
In Eden, the serpent offered immortality and godlikeness apart from G-d’s command. Adam and Eve’s disobedience inaugurated the need for atonement. G-d clothed them with animal skins—mercy foreshadowing Passover’s lamb and the ultimate atonement in Messiah Yeshua.
Disobedience breeds disaster. Notably, Hebrew nachash (noun) means “serpent,” and nachash (verb) means “to practice divination.” Eden’s lie linked supposed immortality and divinity to independence from the Most High.
Two Faulty Foundations of the Occult
- Manipulating G-d: as if sacrifices, formulas, or enchantments could buy His favor.
- Immortality-as-possession: the belief that the soul is inherently immortal and thus available to the living via spiritism or necromancy.
Biblically, we do not “have” a soul—we are a soul. Immortality belongs to G-d alone.
Death is sleep until the resurrection. Our existence rests in His hands.
Scriptural Case Studies in Counterfeit Power
Laban: “I have learned by divination…” (Genesis 30:27)
Joseph’s ruse: He stages “divination” to test his brothers (Genesis 44:5, 15), but true insight came from HaShem—not occult practice.
Va’era: The Finger of God vs. Sorcery
In Va’era (Exodus 6:2–9:35), G-d sends Moses and Aaron to Pharaoh. Their staff becomes a serpent; the magicians mimic it—but Aaron’s staff swallows theirs. The Nile turns to blood; again the magicians imitate. Yet soon their power fails, and the plagues expose the emptiness of Egypt’s “secret arts.”
By Exodus 12, Pharaoh ejects Israel in terror. Counterfeit signs crumble before the Holy One.
Balaam, Saul, Jezebel, Manasseh—Warnings Through History
Balaam: “There is no divination against Jacob” (Numbers 23:23). He cannot curse Israel—but he tempts them to self-curse through seduction, and later dies under judgment.
Saul and the medium at Endor: A tragic turn to necromancy precedes his downfall (1 Samuel 28; 31:2–6). G-d is not to be trifled with.
Jezebel: Her witchcraft saturates the land (2 Kings 9:22).
Manasseh: The worst king of Judah practiced divination and bloodshed (2 Kings 21:6), yet later repented (2 Chronicles 33:12–16)—a ray of hope for any who turn back.
Prophets Against the Secret Arts
False visions and lying divinations whitewash sin (Ezekiel 22:28). In Babylon, Daniel is labeled among “wise men,” but he seeks wisdom from G-d, not the occult (Daniel 1–2; 5).
Testing Signs and Wonders
Messiah and the New Covenant Witness
A Modern Caution
Occult “channeling” and similar practices can seem benign, even comforting, but they invite counterfeit spirits. Wisdom says: steer clear. Scripture, Messiah’s teaching, and the witness of the prophets testify that such paths entangle rather than free.
Spirits are real. G-d commands us to avoid secret power and arcane practices. Evil twists what G-d made good. Consider Adam and Eve. Consider Saul. Consider Messiah’s words.
Guarding the House
First Fruits of Zion notes: in Egypt, Moses overpowered the “strong man” and plundered him by liberating Israel; likewise, Messiah frees the demon-afflicted, binding the adversary.
Choose Relationship Over Counterfeits
Our Father sent His Son because He loves us and wants our best. Trust Him. Build relationships marked by respect and holy love. Walk the straight path.
Protect yourself from the adversary and from every counterfeit power. Follow G-d—relationship with Him is all you need.
And all the people said, “Amen!”
