Astrology and the Christ-follower – Part 2
Astrology in the Bible
Many astrologers insist the Bible actually supports astrology. Is that true? It seems unlikely, given that God has strictly forbidden His people from being involved in practices such as divination, defined as “the practice of seeking knowledge about the future or the unknown by supernatural means.”[1] (See Deuteronomy 18:9-13.) Even a cursory examination of astrology will confirm it meets this definition.
In this article we will look at a few of the verses astrologers use to try to prove first, that key biblical figures were involved in astrology, and second, that the Bible actually support the practice.
Genesis 1:14: “And God said, ‘Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years,…’”
Astrologers claim that the word “signs” here indicates heavenly bodies (planets) were given by God as astrological signs, thus affirming astrology. They suggest that the “signs” here refer to Aries, Taurus, Gemini, etc. However, the context of this verse shows the error in this thinking. The “signs” are actually described and defined (in context) in verses 14-16: “let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years, and let them be lights in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth. And it was so. God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars.”
Genesis 37:9: “I [Joseph] had another dream, and this time the sun and moon and 11 stars were bowing down to me.”
Astrologers believe the reference to the sun, moon, and 11 stars proves that Joseph and his brothers believed in astrology. However, there is not the slightest indication that they have anything to do with astrology, or even with astronomy. The sun, moon, and 11 stars are used symbolically to refer to Joseph’s parents and his brothers. This is the clear statement of the text itself. You can read the literal fulfillment in Genesis 42:5-7, when Joseph’s brothers bow before him.
Numbers 24:17: “A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel.”
This verse does not prove that there was astrological belief in the days of Moses. The reference has nothing to do with astrology. The word “star” here refers to a person, the Messiah, who would be a descendant of Jacob. Notice this verse also refers to a scepter, indicating a ruler, and referring to the fact that this same person who comes from the line of Jacob will also be a ruler.
Job 9:9,10; 38:31-33—“He is the Maker of the Bear and Orion, the Pleiades and the constellations of the south. He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be numbered. ‘Can you bind the beautiful Pleiades? Can you loose the cords of Orion? Can you bring forth the constellations in their seasons or lead out the Bear with its cubs? Do you know the laws of the heavens? Can you set up God’s dominion over the earth?”
Does the mention of the constellations here give evidence that the Bible is teaching astrology? No. Rather, Job 9:9-10 refers to God as the Maker of various constellations. The ancient Israelites may have had limited astronomical knowledge, but they were very aware that God had created the constellations and was in charge of the universe.
Isaiah 13:10; Joel 2:31; Luke 21:25—“The stars of heaven and their constellations will not show their light. The rising sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light.”… “The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.”… “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea.”
Astrologers claim that these references to events in the sky show that the Bible supports astrology. But a careful read will show that all of these verses refer to the second coming of Jesus Christ, the “day of the Lord.” They have nothing to do with astrology. And it’s clear that at this point the sun and the moon are not darkened and they have not turned to blood.
Jeremiah 10:2— “Do not learn the ways of the nations or be terrified by signs in the sky, though the nations are terrified by them.”
This verse actually is referring to astrology. But that presents a problem for astrologers, because this verse is actually rebuking the practice of astrology. John Ankerberg and John Weldon say,
“The Bible condemns ‘the ways of the nations,’ which refers to their astrological practices. The text also says the nations were terrified by literal signs in the sky, not symbolic signs in astrological charts. The ancients were terrified by eclipses, since they thought the moon was being ‘eaten’ by demons. Meteors and comets were also seen as portents of evil. In the Bible God tells His people not to be terrified by literal events in the sky, because they are merely things that He has made. He is in control over all things. The context of Jeremiah 10 is to exalt the true God over the idols and the superstitious fears (such as astrology) that control their lives.”[2]
Matthew 2:1-11— “After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, ‘Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.’ When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. ‘In Bethlehem in Judea,’ they replied, ‘for this is what the prophet has written: “But you, Bethlehem in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.”’ Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, ‘Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.’ After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him.”
While astrologers claim that this means the Bible supports astrology, Ankerberg and Weldon explain that this claim is erroneous:
“This was not a normal star but a miracle from God to guide and direct the Magi to Jesus. This was a temporary phenomenon and had no other purpose than stated. Certainly it had no astrological meaning. If the only purpose for the star was to lead the Magi to Christ, this would also explain why they alone appeared to have seen it.
“Astrologers have claimed these Magi were astrologers, but their conclusion is not proven. That these men are mentioned favorably, and that God deals with them especially in relationship to His Son, indicates that they were probably not astrologers. The term ‘magi’ primarily means ‘wise men,’ and astrology was part of the practice and interest of some ‘wise men,’ but certainly not of all. Nothing in this passage condones or approves the practice of astrology.”[3]
It would be illogical for the same God who warned, “Do not learn the ways of the nations or be terrified by signs in the sky” (Jeremiah 10:2), to then use an astrological “miracle” to proclaim the birth of His Son. And God is not illogical!
Next time, we will reveal that our future is in God’s hands (Psalm 31:15), and He will show you what you need to know when you need to know it. Precious promises!
