spiritual battle, Sorcery (Ex.22)

In Disney movies, sorcerers can be cute and funny and "good" and helpful people;  but sorcery is the practice of black magic, spells and enchantments using demonic powers.  Sorcerers and sorceresses are also called witches...

(Exodus 22:18, and 20)  “You shall not allow a sorceress to live. 

20 “He who sacrifices to any god, other than to the Lord alone, shall be utterly destroyed..."

From this we see:
- to practice any sort of sorcery or black magic is demonic
- there is destruction when one worships demons

Personal experience:  growing up, we would always go to the latest Disney movie, since back then there were not a lot of other producers making family-friendly-films.  Disney loves to have magic in their movies!  It is their hallmark trade, after all.  Most often the witch in the story is the nemesis, but quite often they are the heroes who are actually "good" and ultimately save the day.  But even with those movies, I usually got the feeling that there was a darkness that went with that.

Today's takeaway: the idea of magic can sound alluring, but it is a trap that will bring one down a dark path to destruction.  Why allow ourselves to become enchanted and filled with disillusion, when there is a hope-filled reality!!!  There is God, with all the answers to everything!!!  Who is all-powerful!!!  Who wants to save sinners and build them up with purpose, in His strength!!!...

(Exodus 15:11-18)  “Who is like You among the gods, O Lord? Who is like You, majestic in holiness, awesome in praises, working wonders? 12 “You stretched out Your right hand, the earth swallowed them. 13 “In Your lovingkindness You have led the people whom You have redeemed; in Your strength You have guided them to Your holy habitation. 14 “The peoples have heard, they tremble; anguish has gripped the inhabitants of Philistia. 15 “Then the chiefs of Edom were dismayed; The leaders of Moab, trembling grips them; all the inhabitants of Canaan have melted away. 16 “Terror and dread fall upon them; by the greatness of Your arm they are motionless as stone; until Your people pass over, O Lord, until the people pass over whom You have purchased. 17 “You will bring them and plant them in the mountain of Your inheritance, the place, O Lord, which You have made for Your dwelling, the sanctuary, O Lord, which Your hands have established. 18 “The Lord shall reign forever and ever.”