The Bible says that God was completely against people doing divination, necromancy, sorcery, witchcraft, and using gemstones as charms because it is deceptive. Let’s look at how he responds to these things.
In the old covenant, these things were forbidden for the Israelites because God says they are wicked actions. Deuteronomy 18:9-12 makes it clear that God was against, fortune-telling, sorcery, looking for omens, witchcraft, casting spells, or functioning as mediums or psychics calling forth the spirits of the dead. Witchcraft is mentioned in Leviticus 19:26 as well. God has even condemned various kings of Israel for these things in 2 Kings 9:22, and 2 Chronicles 33:6. Ezekiel 13:18-21 shows us that one of the reasons for exile from Israel was the use of charms to manipulate and deceive people. Micah 5:10-15 reiterates that fortune-telling and witchcraft are among other sins that will be purged from Isreal when God restores the remnant from exile.
Ezekiel 13:18 (NLT) This is what the Sovereign Lord says: What sorrow awaits you women who are ensnaring the souls of my people, young and old alike. You tie magic charms on their wrists and furnish them with magic veils. Do you think you can trap others without bringing destruction to yourselves? 19 You bring shame on me among my people for a few handfuls of barley or a piece of bread. By lying to my people who love to listen to lies, you kill those who should not die, and you promise life to those who should not live. 20 “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against all your magic charms, which you use to ensnare my people like birds. I will tear them from your arms, setting my people free like birds set free from a cage. 21 I will tear off the magic veils and save my people from your grasp. They will no longer be your victims. Then you will know that I am the Lord. 22 You have discouraged the righteous with your lies, but I didn’t want them to be sad. And you have encouraged the wicked by promising them life, even though they continue in their sins.”
In the New Testament, this is still considered a violation of Moral law and will prevent people from entering the Kingdom. Paul mentions these things in a list of desires of the flesh (sin nature) in Galatians 5:16-21, but in the next two verses, he contrasts these with the attributes of the holy spirit which he calls the “fruits of the spirit” (Gal 5:22-23).
Galatians 5:16 So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. 17 The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. 18 But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses. 19 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, 21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
Revelation 21:8 and 22:14-15 both have a list of sins that will prohibit people from inheriting the kingdom and among them are sorcery, witchcraft, and such.
Rev 21:8 “But cowards, unbelievers, the corrupt, murderers, the immoral, those who practice witchcraft, idol worshipers, and all liars—their fate is in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”
Rev 21:14 Blessed are those who wash their robes. They will be permitted to enter through the gates of the city and eat the fruit from the tree of life. 15 Outside the city are the dogs—the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idol worshipers, and all who love to live a lie.
In Acts 16:16-21 Paul cast a demon out of a slave woman who had the ability to tell people their fortunes and her slave masters were upset that couldn’t use her to make money anymore. This woman was a slave on two fronts, spiritually because of demons, and naturally, since men were using her to make money. Paul used the power of the holy spirit to remove the demon and liberate her spiritually which in turn liberated her naturally since she had no value to her masters. In verses 21-40 her masters started a mob and Paul and Silas were thrown in prison after that but God rescued them with an earthquake and the jailer and his family got saved. Plus the officials that threw them in prison had to apologize.
In Acts 19:11-20, Paul went around doing miracles by the power of the holy spirit and became pretty popular. However, like Simon the sorcerer from Acts 8 who tried to buy the holy spirit’s power, the people thought it was just another form of magic and didn’t think anything of it. Then when some Jewish exorcists (non-Jesus followers) failed in casting out a demon, even using the name of Jesus, the possessed man beat them up and stripped them naked. The people in Ephesus were terrified and many of them burned their spells books and scrolls and many of them came to receive Jesus as Lord. They did this because they realized their false power was now ineffective against demons since Jesus had become the highest authority on earth ever since the resurrection.
Acts 19:11 God gave Paul the power to perform unusual miracles. 12 When handkerchiefs or aprons that had merely touched his skin were placed on sick people, they were healed of their diseases, and evil spirits were expelled. 13 A group of Jews was traveling from town to town casting out evil spirits. They tried to use the name of the Lord Jesus in their incantation, saying, “I command you in the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, to come out!” 14 Seven sons of Sceva, a leading priest, were doing this. 15 But one time when they tried it, the evil spirit replied, “I know Jesus, and I know Paul, but who are you?” 16 Then the man with the evil spirit leaped on them, overpowered them, and attacked them with such violence that they fled from the house, naked and battered. 17 The story of what happened spread quickly all through Ephesus, to Jews and Greeks alike. A solemn fear descended on the city, and the name of the Lord Jesus was greatly honored. 18 Many who became believers confessed their sinful practices. 19 A number of them who had been practicing sorcery brought their incantation books and burned them at a public bonfire. The value of the books was several million dollars. 20 So the message about the Lord spread widely and had a powerful effect. 21 Afterward Paul felt compelled by the Spirit to go over to Macedonia and Achaia before going to Jerusalem. “And after that,” he said, “I must go on to Rome!” 22 He sent his two assistants, Timothy and Erastus, ahead to Macedonia while he stayed awhile longer in the province of Asia.
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