Why are some forms of divination (Josephs divination cup, casting lots) allowed in Scripture while others (contacting the dead, astrology etc.) are banned?
Answer Alex, Thanks for your question. This is something I had not previously researched, so I apologize for my delay in finding this answer. The Biblical prohibition against divination stems from its prohibitions against idolatry (First Commandment), which means the worship of anything other than the One True God, and against witchcraft (Second Commandment), which means the attempt to engage in spiritual manipulation by God’s name. It is the consistent position of both the Old and New Testaments that any act which seeks the aid of any spiritual entity other than the One True God is forbidden. This would include contacting spirits, the dead, or other gods, as well as engaging in the cultic practices of other religions for the purpose of discerning future events. To address the specific question of Joseph’s divination cup from Genesis 44, Martin Luther says in his lectures on the book of Genesis: “Joseph does not say that he is a diviner but speaks of the things that served his purpose.
