The Witch of En Dor

 


Miracles without Faith, part 3

 

Introduction

When the mother of magician Harry Houdini died, he made an effort to contact her through mediums. As he visited them, it came to his attention that they were nothing more than charlatans preying on innocent people claiming to be able to speak to their ancestors.

Houdini spent that latter half of his career debunking mediums, fortune tellers, and spiritualists as they were nothing more than magicians claiming to be someone important. This is similar to Simon the Sorcerer in Acts 8.

Back in the Old Testament, part of The Law was a list of abominations of the land that the Israelite were forbidden to take part (Deut. 18:9-12). King Saul, however, was in need of one of these people and the end result was quite surprising.

 

A King Gone Wrong

Saul was chosen king of the Israelites because of his stature (1 Sam. 9:2). However, his reign was rife with problems:

He performed a sacrifice for the people instead of waiting for Samuel—1 Sam. 13:5-14, He made his men swear to not eat anything until the enemy was vanquished—1 Sam. 14:23-31, He was to utterly destroy the Amalekites but brought back “souvenirs” instead—1 Sam. 15:3-28.

Because of Saul’s disobedience to God, his kingdom was torn from him and given to another. David was to become his successor and, through the next several chapters, Saul saw David as his enemy.

 

Seeking God’s Help

In 1 Sam. 28 we see the Philistines preparing for war against Israel. David was ready since he knew that God was on their side (1 Sam. 17:44-47). However, King Saul was fearful and wanted to consult God. Unfortunately, God refused to respond to him and Samuel was dead. In addition, he had cleared the land of all mediums and spiritists (1 Sam. 28:3, 6).


He manages to find a medium at En Dor and, disguising himself, asks for her help. She at first refuses because of the King’s command but he assures her that no harm will come to her. We pick up the story in verse 11, Then the woman said, "Whom shall I bring up for you?" And he said, "Bring up Samuel for me." When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice. And the woman spoke to Saul, saying, "Why have you deceived me? For you are Saul!" And the king said to her, "Do not be afraid. What did you see?" And the woman said to Saul, "I saw a spirit ascending out of the earth." So he said to her, "What is his form?" And she said, "An old man is coming up, and he is covered with a mantle." And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground and bowed down (vs. 11-14).


Notice in verse 12 it says, When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice… This proves the woman was a charlatan as she was surprised that she actually summoned a spirit. It was God’s way of proving to King Saul that he was no longer on his side. This miracle took place even though the medium had no faith in her ability to do such a thing.

Samuel’s spirit said as much, “Why then do you ask me, seeing the LORD has departed from you and has become your enemy? And the LORD has done for Himself as He spoke by me. For the LORD has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor, David. Because you did not obey the voice of the LORD nor execute His fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore the LORD has done this thing to you this day. Moreover the LORD will also deliver Israel with you into the hand of the Philistines. And tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. The LORD will also deliver the army of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.” (vs. 16-19)

 

Conclusion

Of all people who should have faith, in regard to miracles, it should be the person who performs them! All faith healers today do not have such powers. What they have is a business and a way to convince people that if they put their mind to it, they can accomplish most things. Miracles, however, is not one of them.

If you want salvation, remember what the apostle Paul wrote in Romans 1:16, For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. Miracles cannot, and will not, save you from your sin.

 

 

 

 

 

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