Omen

An omen is a natural sign or occurrence that prefigures the outcome of a future event.

The Bible lists “sorcery” (“seeking omens”) among the abominable pagan practices that God forbade to Israel (Deuteronomy 18:10). Balaam realized that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel. So, he did not “resort to sorcery,” as was his normal practice (Numbers 24:1).

The men of Syria looked for an omen. They wanted to see if they could influence King Ahab of Israel, who ruled from 874–853 BC, to release the Syrian king Ben-hadad from captivity (1 Kings 20:33).

The prophet Isaiah reveals the Lord as one “who foils the signs of false prophets and makes fools of diviners, who confounds the wise” (Isaiah 44:25).

See also Magic; Sorcery.