Should Christians Care about Omens?

Today is Friday the 13th; regarded as the unluckiest day of the year. Some say it's arbitrary to call this day unlucky, after all there is one every year. This day, though, was marked a bad omen not by random chance but, surprisingly, by Biblical interpretation. Historians have traced the fear of the day back to early Christian tradition. Both 13 and Friday relate to the death of Jesus, because at Jesus' last supper (the first event traditionally associated with Good Friday) there were 13 people present (Jesus and His 12 disciples). Many believers in the middle ages saw this as a sign that anything centered around the number 13 or Friday should be avoided. Is this a tradition worth keeping? Should Christians care about omens?

Some early Christians believed that when 13 people ate
together the first one to leave would die, because that's what
happened to Judas (John 13:30, Matthew 27:5).

At first glance it seems clear God does not want His people to care for omens. The Israelites were told not to "interpret omens," (Deuteronomy 18:10), and may of their kings who did evil in God's eyes "practiced divination and sought omens," (2 Kings 17:17, 21:6, 2 Chronicles 33:6). This makes it seem undeniable that those who divinate omens are rejected by God. That is, until one's reading of Scripture takes them to the wisemen from the east. These well known seekers of the Messiah are quoted saying they "saw [Jesus'] star when it rose,” (Matthew 2:2). They followed this good omen all the way to the house where Jesus was, and then they worshiped Him (Matthew 2:9-11). So, how come the God who does not want His people to interpret omens brought people to worship Him by an omen?

Jesus tells His disciples that the bad omens of
"the abomination that causes desolation," (Daniel 9:27) as
well as a darkened sun and a moon without light (Isaiah 13:10)
will be signs of the end of days (Matthew 24:15,29).

God wants to keep His people from interpreting omens or looking for signs, so they can better follow Him. People who look for signs are looking for direction. They are trying to find out which path they should take, but God's people should trust the Lord and He will direct their path (Proverbs 3:5-6). God may choose to reveal Himself through apparent omens (such as He did with the wisemen), but to His people He speaks plainly. Jesus says, "the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them," (Matthew 13:11), and so to the gentilic wisemen He guided them by a star, but to the shepherds in Israel He directly sent His messengers (luke 2:8-10).

God is patient "not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to
come to repentance," (2 Peter 3:9), so there can be a
"great multitude that no one could count, from every nation,
tribe, people and language," in heaven (Revelation 7:9).

God still speaks clearly and guides His people. Scripture teaches that God's Word "is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path," (Psalm 119:105), so it is the Bible where God speaks and gives direction. It is written, "In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son," (Hebrews 1:1-2), and the Son called the apostles to preach His words (Matthew 10:2-4). The apostles testified that their words were of God by demonstrating signs and wonders (2 Corinthians 12:12, Hebrews 2:4). Having demonstrated their authority as God's messengers, the apostles wrote the letters and prophecies that believers have today in the New Testament. These writings shall always be God's voice and guiding hand to His people, because God has built up His Church "on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the chief cornerstone," (Ephesians 2:20). So the apostle Paul spoke God's wisdom, when he wrote, "All Scripture is God-breathed...so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work," (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

Those who live By God's words will prosper, for blessed is
the one "whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and
who meditates on His law day and night." (Psalm 1:2).

God's people should not be moved by omens, when they have the unmovable truth of Scripture (Matthew 7:24). There may be people of God who say they have correctly interpreted signs, but this has always been the case. In the days before Israel went into exile God told His people, "The prophets are prophesying lies in My name. I have not sent them or appointed them or spoken to them. They are prophesying to you false visions, divinations, idolatries and the delusions of their own minds," (Jeremiah 14:14). God warned His followers to not listen to what the prophets were prophesying, because they were liars who gave false hopes, (Jeremiah 23:16). Christians should not care for omens, because the interpretation of them can be unfounded and misleading. Instead, believers should follow God, because He is always trustworthy (Isaiah 25:1). This world is filled with signs that people interpret by their own minds, yet God speaks in Isaiah chapter 55 from verses 8 to 11:

"My thoughts are not your thoughts,

    neither are your ways My ways,”

declares the Lord.

"As the heavens are higher than the earth,

    so are My ways higher than your ways

    and My thoughts than your thoughts.

As the rain and the snow

    come down from heaven,

and do not return to it

    without watering the earth

and making it bud and flourish,

    so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,

so is My word that goes out from My mouth:

    It will not return to Me empty,

but will accomplish what I desire

    and achieve the purpose for which I sent it."

Jesus says, "My sheep listen to My voice; I know them,
and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they shall
never perish; no one will snatch them out of
My hand," (John 10:27-28).

Sources

• The Bible (New International Version)
• National Geographic: Friday the 13th Rooted in Bible
• History: Friday the 13th