Interpret Omens נָחַשׁ

We are in chapter nineteen of Leviticus with our word for today. נָחַשׁ seek and give omens, foretell. It is used 11 times in the Old Testament. Our word is used in the sense of to divine, to find something out by practicing divination. A good example of this is when Joseph was second in command of Egypt and part of his not revealing who he was yet to his brothers he acted like a powerful ruler who would use our word. Genesis 44:4-5, 15 Now Joseph said to his steward, “Up, follow after the men, and when you overtake them, say to them, ‘Why have you repaid evil for good? Is it not from this that my lord drinks, and by this that he נַחֵ֥שׁ יְנַחֵ֖שׁ [This is our word used twice so literally divines by divination] practices divination? You have done evil in doing this.’” … Joseph said to them, “What deed is this that you have done? Do you not know that a man like me can indeed נַחֵ֧שׁ יְנַחֵ֛שׁ [This again, is our word used twice so literally divines by divination] practice divination?” We know Joseph never did this. And later we will see why because he understood that God calls us to let him reveal himself to us as his creatures. We also see our word with Laban who actually did this. Genesis 30:27 But Laban said to him, “If I have found favor in your sight, נִחַ֕שְׁתִּי I have learned by divination that the Lord has blessed me because of you. Notice that it worked. God never says don’t do this because there is nothing to it. No, he says don’t do this because there is more to it than anyone realizes. It brings great evil with it. Let’s look at our chapter where God specifically condemns it. Leviticus 19:26 You shall not eat any flesh with the blood in it. You shall not תְנַחֲשׁ֖וּ interpret omens or tell fortunes. This is the idea of rejecting God’s revealed word and opening oneself up to evil to learn the future. Notice the evil activity around our word. 2 Kings 17:17 And they burned their sons and their daughters as offerings and used divination וַיְנַחֵ֑שׁוּ and omens and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the Lord, provoking him to anger. 2 Kings 21:6 And he burned his son as an offering and used fortune-telling וְנִחֵ֔שׁ and omens and dealt with mediums and with necromancers. He did much evil in the sight of the Lord, provoking him to anger. 2 Chronicles 33:6 And he burned his sons as an offering in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, and used fortune-telling וְנִחֵשׁ֙ and omens and sorcery, and dealt with mediums and with necromancers. He did much evil in the sight of the Lord, provoking him to anger. This is why God condemns such practice because it opens one up to all sorts of demonic and evil influence. Contrast this with Joseph when asked to interpret Pharo’s dreams. Notice who he gives the credit to and that he is not seeking to know the future but rather responding to what God was doing in revealing himself and the future of Egypt to Joseph. We see the same thing with Daniel. I’ll close with both of these great examples of humbly waiting for God to reveal himself and always giving him the glory. Genesis 41:15-16 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I have had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.” Joseph answered Pharaoh, “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.” Joseph was not going around God’s revealed word he was responding to God revealing himself. Daniel 2:27-28 Daniel answered the king and said, “No wise men, enchanters, magicians, or astrologers can show to the king the mystery that the king has asked, but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days.