After Judas’ betrayal and death, another disciple needed to be named to keep the number at twelve. In the Acts lesson appointed for today (Acts 1:15-26), Peter suggests to the faithful believers assembled after Jesus’ ascension that they be the ones who choose the twelfth disciple. “They cast lots, and the lot fell on Matthias.”
We hear this phrase, “they cast lots” and might think–are they simply rolling dice, tossing a coin, waiting to see who draws the short straw? Shouldn’t they take this more seriously?
But as an ancient and revered tradition, casting lots is the serious way. In Leviticus, the method is used to separate the scapegoat from the goat being sacrificed. In the book of Numbers, it’s used to divide the Promised Land among the Israelites. Even the sailors on Jonah’s boat cast lots to figure out who was responsible for the storm at sea. In I Chronicles, lots were used to determine who was to receive which temple service.
The biblical example with which we are probably most familiar is when the soldiers at the foot of the cross cast lots for Jesus’ clothing. This is one of many examples though; lots were also drawn for musicians, gatekeepers and all sorts of household chores.
My five-year-old daughter casts lots to decide nearly everything–what book to read at bedtime, which shoes to wear to school and what drink she’ll enjoy at dinner. Her preferred method? The timeless “Eenie Meenie Miney Mo.”
How to select which book to read next? Cast lots, of course.
My seven-year-old son is always quick to suggest “Rock Paper Scissors” when I ask the two of them to set the table, fold napkins or choose a movie to watch on Netflix. Both children fully believe in this process. To them, there is no chance involved.
The Israelites didn’t see casting lots as a game of chance either. They saw it as a revelation of God’s will. Per the book of Proverbs, “The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.” Casting of lots was considered totally impartial–completely untouched by politics, favoritism or nepotism.
Throughout the Bible we see people of faith casting lots as outward and visible signs of God’s will. Casting lots was sacramental. Today people are quick to attribute things to luck, chance or coincidence, but what if it’s instead God’s hand at work?
How would trusting in the casting of lots change your decision making process? Would it allow you to more easily see God at work in your life? Or would it veer too much into pre-destination and the abdication of your own freedom to choose?
As someone who struggles with over-functioning, over-thinking and over-rationalizing, the idea of casting lots to make decisions feels liberating to me. Perhaps I’ll ask my son to play a round of “Rock Paper Scissors” to help me decide when to use it next.
Have you ever cast lots to make choices?
YES! Sort of. This particular scripture has been rolling around in my head recently as I was pondering my decision to move to Arkansas last year based on 3 vanity license plates I saw in quick succession preceding the decision: THUMMIM, ILISTIT, and ARKANSAW. We moved, the job fell apart, but I know God had a hand in it and can’t wait for Him to show me why!!! Thanks for illuminating my day!!!!
Somewhat recently, my husband and I have begun to cast lots. We will ask God a question and roll a die. We created a meaning for each of the 6 numbers. 1 is yes, 2 is yes with reservations or you might think of it as, “yes, buy it, I might have more to say about this”. Three is no with reservations and 4 is a flat no. We designated 5 as God choosing to stay silent on a matter, and 6 as Him telling us to “Wait”.
You might think, “What a relief it must be to truly cast your cares on Him”, and it IS, but there most definitely is still a strong faith factor required. Because as soon as a question is asked, you must believe that He has in fact answered. And yet, He does answer and guide supernaturally in this way. Once, my youngest daughter was suffering from an allergic reaction, prolonged and concerning and we could not deduce what she was allergic to. We asked God to direct us through lots and through that, God showed us the problem: certain dyes in clothing, linens and toys. We went through the whole house and purged what was affecting her. The allergy cleared up immediately. God is good. And He does, indeed, still use lots today.
Wow this is scary! It feels like giving into superstition, or testing the Lord, or something, and yet I believe God can determine the roll of dice, but I’m not sure that he would interact with me like that just because I wanted him too.
Or perhaps culturally this just feel weird.
What I’d previously read was that we don’t do this anymore because now we have the Holy Spirit to guide us, and Matthias was chosen before they received Him. Paul’s ship mates were not believers, so they can cast lots for cultural reasons.
I can see it’s a fair way to allocate resources, decide who goes next etc, but I’d not thought of it as a guidance. It’s too close to divination in my mind, which I shun. In fact, let me ask, what’s the difference? Serious question.
I shall think more about this
Thank you
I’ve had a think, and I’d like to add that we mustn’t miss the most important thing the apostles did – they prayed. They had been chosen by Jesus, who looked them in the eye and called them, taught them, lived with them. And the memory of his presence was still very fresh, so I’m sure their prayer was powerful and intimate. Now they were choosing to remake their number (Ps 109:8) but only to choose one from those who’d witnessed all Jesus did from the beginning, a qualified person. They’d wisely already made two good choices.
I think there are more lessons here than taking a chance decision through a randomising tool and calling it God’s will, though I don’t doubt it could be. We must pray, and ask God for wisdom, and also use the sense he has given us, and commit it to him, trusting that it will become apparent, and if you think some form of lot casting to speed the process up is the way to go, well, I can’t say not. But it must be in a spirit of asking God’s will, in Jesus’ name. This is very close (without prayer it’s the same) to what new angers do with dowsing and cards, and it is not a holy spirit that‘s guided them, or the outcome. They just believe it’s some spirit guide, or more subtlety, just being more in touch with your subconscious, or the flow of the universe, for example.
And always remembering Rom 8:28. The Lord has us, even if we get it wrong.
Some might say perhaps Paul was God’s actual choice for Judas’ replacement? I’ve heard that said, it’s not my idea, and just thinking about it, Paul wasn’t a witness from the beginning and all points in between, but his ignorance was accurately filled in with revelation (sanity checked with Peter) so his lack of ‘qualification’ was no hindrance to God’s using him mightily.