spiritual battle, Resorting to Ghosts (Is.19 & 29)

We find a reference to "ghosts" within the prophecy regarding Egypt's fall - at least, that is the English word used in my NASB translation, which tends to be a more exact translation.  King James uses "familiar spirits".   Actually, I just checked, and a lot of versions use "familiar spirits". 

And because right now I don't have access to Bible translating tools, I found the modern Hebrew version for verse 4 online and used Google Translate.  The Hebrew word (ואל־האטים) was translated as - "the elves".  lol, interesting. 

While other translations skip around that and add to the list of mediums and spiritists to include people such as sorcerers and necromancers - those who "consult with the dead" - which in essence refers to the exact same thing.

People think demons who impersonate people are "ghosts" - or the spirits of (familiar) people!  And they think that by accessing them, they will find closure or answers to life...

(Isaiah 19:1-4)  The oracle concerning Egypt.

Behold, the Lord is riding on a swift cloud and is about to come to Egypt; the idols of Egypt will tremble at His presence, and the heart of the Egyptians will melt within them.
2 “So I will incite Egyptians against Egyptians; and they will each fight against his brother and each against his neighbor, city against city and kingdom against kingdom.
3 “Then the spirit of the Egyptians will be demoralized within them; and I will confound their strategy, so that they will resort to idols and ghosts of the dead and to mediums and spiritists.
4 “Moreover, I will deliver the Egyptians into the hand of a cruel master, and a mighty king will rule over them,” declares the Lord God of hosts.

In a prophecy regarding Judah's downfall, Jerusalem is called "Ariel" here, which means"lion of God" or"altar hearth of God".  Jerusalem was going to become an altar hearth (an Ariel) because of the death and devastation that was to come in 701 B.C..

Within this description, we can see that over all these years, people still have the idea that dead people become ghosts and come up from the ground (especially around cemeteries) and can be heard talking. 

So God uses what people think in order to describe what is to happen to them.  Notice in verse 4, the word "like" in the sentence "your voice will be LIKE that of a spirit..." and "will whisper from the dust" - meaning that - while these Israelites are still alive, they will be suffering, lying in the dirt, near death, pleading...

 (Isaiah 29:1-4)  Woe, O Ariel, Ariel the city where David once camped! Add year to year, observe your feasts on schedule.
2 I will bring distress to Ariel, and she will be a city of lamenting and mourning; and she will be like an Ariel to me.
3 I will camp against you encircling you, and I will set siege works against you, and I will raise up battle towers against you.
4 Then you will be brought low; from the earth you will speak, and from the dust where you are prostrate your words will come. Your voice will also be like that of a spirit from the ground, and your speech will whisper from the dust.

From this we see:
- people who are demoralized will seek out mediums and spiritists to consult ghosts (to consult the dead), as well as idols, which is futile and emptiness, and if demons appear as "ghosts" (impersonating familiar people) - they are void of morality  Notice that this outcome was a punishment. (Is.19:3)
- evil spirits/demons can whisper from the ground (Is.29:4)
- unbelievers who have already died have no more chances (Is.38:18)

(Isaiah 38:18)  “For Sheol cannot thank You, death cannot praise You; those who go down to the pit cannot hope for Your faithfulness."

Personal experience:  death is part of life.  Some people avoid thinking about that altogether.  While others become fixated on the topic and deal with it in different ways.

There are those who, instead of worrying about their own salvation while they still have time, they worry about those who have passed away already.  Especially those who have died as unbelievers.  They would prefer to believe that they can do what they want now, and then later when they are ghosts, they still have a chance to work their way to heaven.

Then there are those who have a hard time letting go of the loved ones who have passed away, so they do what they can or think what they can to "keep them close".  One of the beliefs is that their deceased loved ones (whether believers or unbelievers) have become angels, or they are somehow "looking down on them from heaven" and "keeping a watch over us".

I heard this a few times at my mom's funeral.  Someone told me, "Just think - your mom is now in heaven, looking down on us and watching over you."  I'm sure they thought that these words would bring me comfort, but - ah - - - NO!!!

I mean... WHAT???  I don't want my poor mom to have to watch me - watch me making mistakes - watch me doing stupid things...  No!  And then what about my two brothers?  And my dad?  IF this were even true, she could only be in one place at one time, or be looking down and seeing just one location at a time. 

And just how would that be considered a heavenly rest???!!!  (Besides, we'll see other scripture down the road which will tell us this is not how it works.)  And another "besides" - this life is short in the grand scheme of things!  One day, I will see my mom (and all other believing family and friends) in heaven for all eternity.

Today's takeaway:  It is enough for me to know that GOD is watching over me!!!  God is everywhere, all-knowing and all-powerful.  He's got this! 

And so - one needs to look to God for salvation - which will save us from eternal death!  And the wayward Christian needs to turn back to God - and "live again" (verse 5:14).  And we need to look to God for our guidance in everything - which will give us a quality of living right now...

(Ephesians 5:1-21)  Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; 2 and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.

3 But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints; 4 and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. 5 For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be partakers with them; 8 for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light 9 (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), 10 trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; 12 for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. 13 But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. 14 For this reason it says,

“Awake, sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

15 Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, 16 making the most of your time, because the days are evil. 17 So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; 20 always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; 21 and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.