Why did God allow witchcraft to seem real by allowing Samuel to rise in 1 Samuel 28?
No doubt sorcery and witchcraft were practised in those days and most of them were fake with the intention to deceive people. But in this case in God allowing Samuel to really get called up by the Witch of Endor, would it not have empowered deception?
1 Samuel 1:1 - 28
NIV - 1 There was a certain man from Ramathaim, a Zuphite from the hill country of Ephraim, whose name was Elkanah son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. 2 He had two wives; one was called Hannah and the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none.
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Asked April 23 2020
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Philip Wong
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For follow-up discussion and general commentary on the topic. Comments are sorted chronologically.
Philip Wong
Thanks Tim. So it was not something from God. God did not endorse deception. That clarifies my confusion.
Notwithstanding, something else popped up in my head. Now that being a demon, I wonder why God endowed the demon with such authority to prophesy so accurately the time and enemy Saul and his sons would die from (see 1 Samuel 28:19 & Chapter 31) ?
Tim Maas
The demon at Endor did not speak the truth. It said that Saul would be given into the hands of the Philistines, which I interpret as meaning that Saul would either be killed or taken captive by them. However, as recorded in 1 Samuel 31:4, Saul took his own life in order to avoid either of those fates.
Philip Wong
It has not appeared in the discussions here but I saw on email that you also quoted a Bible-recorded incident of a demon's activities or pronouncement sanctified by God (1 King's 22:19-23).
Thank you so much. That has further clarified my confusion. : )
Danny Hickman
Respectfully Tim, you're splitting hairs.
Saul was badly injured by the Phillistine archers and was in a lot of pain. He was as good as dead. Saul didn't commit suicide. He took himself out of a lot of pain. He didn't want to suffer. Suicide is committed by people who WANT TO DIE. Saul didn't welcome his death, he was killed in war. He knew he was done. He just didn't like the way he was left to "bleed out." His enemies left him that way purposely. A king, left bleeding and helpless. It was designed to demoralize a big man. It worked.
Danny Hickman
This question accuses God of possibly helping witchcraft to flourish. In other words, if God doesn't prevent this evil it's tantamount to making it seem normal or acceptable. First, witchcraft is said to be fake; I guess that means the witch was something like a magician, only using sleight of hand and deception.
Witchcraft is demonic not magical, which is deceptive sleight of hand and such. Witches call on the power of the kingdom of darkness. It's as real as the kingdom of God.
One of Satan's best deceptions is to get us to believe he doesn't exist. If he doesn't, then what is the source of all the destruction, confusion, violence, and lies?
This woman is a witch. She doesn't do her work by the power of God. PERIOD! But that doesn't stop God and Satan from (for lack of a better word) collaborating. (for those who don't like that word, it actually means to cooperate with an enemy). Consider Job's ordeal.
I think the hangup we have with this story is not that a witch is said to have consulted with the dead, but that it was Samuel, the priest /prophet. It's as if in order for her to make contact with Samuel, God would need to get involved in some way; as if God would need to allow the witch access.
Why not? Maybe he did; we don't know. The Bible says Samuel talked to Saul and told him he would be with him (dead) the following day, and that is what happened...
The question says God allowed witchcraft "to seem real." I think it shows that it IS REAL!