Isaiah 47:12-15 – Don’t dabble in the occult

We see how amazingly accurate Isaiah’s prophecy was in this chapter. He foretold everything 150 years prior to their occurrence. Bear in mind that  when he foretold all these events, the city of Jerusalem was still fortified, and her temple was still standing. Judah was not weak, and Babylon was just beginning to rise in prominence.  We can safely conclude that Isaiah was speaking all these under the influence of God. His words were divinely inspired. For he could not have known all these with such amazing accuracy by analyzing the situation then. Much has been covered in our discussion of verses 1-11.

In these last four verses of Isaiah 47, God persisted in mocking Babylon sarcastically, picturing her as a sorceress devoid of power. Babylon was known for its occultic arts. So in verse 12, God mockingly goaded them to use these black arts, arguing that perhaps they might work to benefit them.  Of course, God knew that there was no power in their occultic practices and all their attempts would come to naught.  

In verse 13, He cynically told them to seek the counsel of their soothsayers and astrologers. Why? They had become weary of the many counsels of the sorceress that did not work. Caustically God told them that even the counsel of the soothsayers and astrologers would also have no effect. In verse 14 God then argued why they would be of no help. He said that all the help they sought would amount to nothing since the sorceress, soothsayers and astrologers would be at a loss themselves. They themselves would suffer the same end and be judged and burnt. They had also strayed into the path of evil, so how could they be of any help? In fact, God assured the people that none of them would be able to save themselves.

Among the many things that God detests is the practice of the occult. When people do not fully trust God, they will have to find some replacement. They would turn to something that they believe would have supernatural power to help them. No wonder fortune-tellers, soothsayers, horoscopes, séance, and the likes, are still flourishing. But these are the arts that God greatly detests. For us believers, we must be deeply rooted in God’s Word and firmly grounded in trusting Him. He alone has the knowledge and power to free one from a bondage to superstition. We must trust Him alone!