Dowsing, also known as water witching or divining, is the practice of using a forked stick, rod, pendulum, or other tool to locate underground water, minerals, or other hidden or lost substances. This practice has been around for centuries, but what does the Bible have to say about it?
The Bible does not directly mention the practice of dowsing. However, there are some principles and examples in Scripture that can give insight into God’s view on this practice.
The Bible warns against occult practices
Dowsing has historically been associated with the occult and divination. Occult practices such as witchcraft, fortune telling, and spiritism are clearly condemned in the Bible. Passages like Deuteronomy 18:10-12 warn the Israelites against practicing divination and witchcraft as abominations to the Lord. Consulting mediums and spiritists is labeled as detestable. In the New Testament, we see sorcery, witchcraft, and magic arts listed among the sinful deeds of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21).
While dowsing itself is not directly mentioned, the Bible’s opposition to the occult and divination implies that the practice of dowsing would be similarly viewed as wrong and dangerous from a spiritual perspective.
The Bible forbids pagan practices
In addition to occult arts, the Bible also speaks against any form of pagan idolatry. Practices associated with pagan worship are repeatedly forbidden and criticized in Scripture. In particular, Deuteronomy 12:29-32 warned Israel not to inquire into the pagan practices of the surrounding nations or worship God in their manner. God commanded the destruction of pagan altars, symbols and idols throughout the land so that the people would not be ensnared.
Historically, dowsing and divination practices have pagan origins, often tied to the worship of pagan gods and spirits. Thus, the Bible’s prohibition of pagan religious practices would seem to include a prohibition on dowsing.
The Bible calls for dependence on God, not divination
One of the core problems with occult practices according to the Bible is that they represent a lack of trust and dependence on God. The prophets in the Old Testament often chastised the people for turning to mediums and spiritists when they should have sought the Lord (Isaiah 8:19). Even King Saul lost his kingdom by consulting a medium when God refused to answer him (1 Chronicles 10:13-14).
Instead, Scripture instructs the believer to trust in the Lord rather than placing faith in dubious divination practices. Psalms and Proverbs, in particular, admonish the reader to wait patiently for the Lord, follow His guidance, and trust in His provision.
The use of divination through dowsing, therefore, indicates both a lack of faith and disobedience towards God’s commands. The Bible emphasizes caring for one’s needs through prayer, wise action, and patience rather than supernatural shortcuts.
Examples of divination being unreliable and deceptive
The Bible contains examples that cast doubt on the reliability and accuracy of pagan divination practices. In the book of Acts, the apostle Paul encounters a slave girl with a spirit of divination that allowed her to predict the future (Acts 16:16-18). But Paul casts out this spirit in the name of Jesus, demonstrating the spirit’s inferior power compared to God’s authority. The book of Daniel also tells of King Nebuchadnezzar testing his magicians and astrologers by asking them to interpret his dream – which they were unable to do without God’s help (Daniel 2:27).
These instances show that spirits associated with divination are not necessarily accurate or all-knowing. Their knowledge and power were subject to the true Spirit of God. Just as the magicians in Pharaoh’s court could only mimic some of the miracles God performed through Moses (Exodus 7:11), divination practices only give the appearance of true discernment or powers that belong to God alone.
The Bible shows the limits of the spiritual realm
The dowsing practice usually ascribes supernatural levels of knowledge to whatever spirit, energy or power is behind the divining rod or pendulum. However, the Bible makes it clear that while spiritual forces do exist, their knowledge and capabilities are limited.
In 1 Kings 8:39, Solomon recognizes that only God can know the hearts of men. No spirit or occult practice can truly discern people’s inner thoughts and intentions like God can. Furthermore, spirits associated with occult practices are portrayed as lies and deception. The false prophets described in 1 Kings 22 gained their prophecies from lying spirits sent out from God (1 Kings 22:21-23). The spiritual forces behind the occult are deceitful in nature, not all-knowing.
Therefore, the Bible indicates a clear limit to what any spirit or occult practice can actually discern or predict. Spirits may have abilities to gather information and predict events to an extent, but they are limited compared to an all-knowing God.
Bible warns that signs and wonders could be misleading
Some dowsers claim to have success in locating water or minerals through supernatural knowledge. However, the Bible states that miracles and spiritual signs are not proof of truth in themselves. Moses performed miracles that the Egyptian magicians could mimic to a degree. Jesus warns in Matthew 24:24 that false prophets will perform signs and wonders capable of misleading people. Even true miracles need to be weighed against the overall message and fruit of the one performing them.
Therefore, any successes in dowsing practices cannot be taken as evidence that the power behind them is true or good. The Bible contains many warnings that false prophets and deceptive spirits are capable of performing wonders to achieve their purposes and lead people away from God. Christians should be cautious about putting faith in such signs alone.
Bible calls believers to test the spirits
Given the deceptive potential of the spiritual realm, the Bible advises believers to exercise discernment with any practice or teaching that claims supernatural backing. 1 John 4:1 tells believers to “test the spirits” to see if they are from God. 1 Thessalonians 5:21 says to “test everything” and hold on to what is good.
The example of the Bereans in Acts 17:11 is also relevant – they tested even the teachings of the apostle Paul against what the Scriptures said. This biblical principle would require Christians to carefully test and investigate claims that dowsing and divination practices have a good or godly spiritual source.
God condemns divination in the case of Balaam
One of the most detailed biblical accounts related to divination is the story of Balaam in Numbers 22-24. Balak, king of Moab, summoned the prophet Balaam to curse the Israelites as they approached his land. Though Balaam used animal divination and sorcery to receive prophecies, God ultimately had control over what blessings and curses actually came from his mouth.
This story reveals that God is sovereign even over the words of a practicing diviner. And because Balaam continued using divination against God’s commands, he is presented in a negative light. Peter and Jude use Balaam as an example of the wickedness that false prophets exhibit (2 Peter 2:12-16, Jude 1:11). So this account conveys a strong biblical condemnation of divination.
Dowsing fails the test of Scripture
When dowsing is evaluated in light of these biblical standards, it falls short. The origins of dowsing lie more in pagan folk practices than godly wisdom. The divination andfortune-telling aspects go against many scriptural prohibitions. And there is no testable evidence that the spiritual forces behind dowsing practices are good rather than deceitful or limiting.
At best, dowsing relies on spiritual sources of knowledge and power apart from God. At worst, it may open one’s spirit up to deception from demonic spirits. Either way, the biblical view would be to avoid dowsing and point people toward prayerful trust in the Lord instead.
God provides what we truly need
Ultimately, the Bible would encourage looking beyond dubious spiritual shortcuts like dowsing and embracing God’s higher way of provision. Passages like Matthew 6:25-34 remind us that God knows what we truly need and cares to provide for His children. Practices like dowsing reflect a lack of faith in God’s willingness and ability to give wisdom, discernment, and daily bread.
The Bible offers a better way. Instead of chasing after signs, wonders and hidden knowledge through questionable spiritualmeans, believers are called to seek the kingdom of God (Matthew 6:33). Dowsing for temporal things like water or minerals cannot compare to discerning the everlasting spiritual truths that come from God’s Holy Spirit.
Summary
In summary, while the Bible does not directly address dowsing, examination of key scriptural principles gives good reason to conclude this practice falls outside of God’s will for His people. The occult associations, pagan origins, reliance on spiritual forces other than God, and divination aspects all conflict with biblical values and commands. Christians would be wise to avoid dowsing rods and pendulums and rely on the Holy Spirit’s guidance, scriptural wisdom and fervent prayer instead.