I’m not much of a gambler, which is a good thing I guess because I’m a pastor, but I have participated in “Bible roulette” a time or two. You know that thing you do when you’re not sure what to read in your bible or ask God a question like a Crazy 8 ball and then randomly open to a place in your bible and hope that’s the word of the Lord, “……and Shamgar smote 600 Philistines with an ox goad”???? What???
Games of chance like “rock-paper-scissors” or the always reliable coin toss are cute in deciding who gets the remote or who gets to decide which movie you watch on Netflix, but I wouldn’t recommend it for serious matters of life. I recently learned Wilbur Wright won a coin toss over his brother Orville to win the right to be the first man in flight. Strangely, his flight went mechanical and Orville would be the first man to fly the following day. Lucky guy, right?
The right to purchase iconic thoroughbred Secretariat was ‘won’ on a coin toss. Secretariat was actually the consolation prize for losing the toss. Later we’d discover this consolation prize would have a heart 4x’s that of the average thoroughbred. He would go on to win the triple crown of racing. Lucky again, right? NOPE- I don’t believe in luck or chance- just God!
“The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.”
Proverbs 16:33
If you are unfamiliar with the term “casting lots”, it can best be described as “rolling the dice”. Often times, God’s people would ‘roll the dice’ to determine God’s will in a given situation. While I don’t recommend this for today, (God shows us His will through His word, His Holy Spirit and His church) I think we can catch some of God’s will for us today by ‘lots cast in the past’:
IT’S GOD’S WILL THAT HIS SON WOULD BE AN ATONING SACRIFICE FOR YOUR SINS
And Aaron shall cast lots over the two goats, one lot for the LORD and the other lot for Azazel. And Aaron shall present the goat on which the lot fell for the LORD and use it as a sin offering, but the goat on which the lot fell for Azazel shall be presented alive before the LORD to make atonement over it, that it may be sent away into the wilderness to Azazel.
Leviticus 16:8-10
Lots were cast between 2 goats to see which would be the Scapegoat (Azazel-‘the goat that goes away’) and which would be the Lamb of God slain. Jesus would be the perfect lamb slain on behalf of our sins once and for all reconciling us back to God.
IT’S GOD’S WILL THAT YOU WOULD CONTEND AND FIGHT FOR YOUR INHERITANCE
and Joshua cast lots for them in Shiloh before the LORD. And there Joshua apportioned the land to the people of Israel, to each his portion.
Joshua 18:10
Joshua cast lots in order to divide up the Promised Land to each of the tribes of Israel. The Land was given, but had to be possessed, fought for. You have an inheritance in Christ- a Promised Land you must contend for and fight for by faith.
IT’S GOD’S WILL THAT YOU WOULD LOVE HIM AND NOT JUST HIS STUFF
And when they had crucified him, they divided his garments among them by casting lots. Matthew 27:35
Jesus, the Savior of the world, the one who could give abundant life was within reach of these people, but they were content just to have some of His things.
IT’S GOD’S WILL THAT YOU WOULD TAKE YOUR PLACE IN THE STORY OF GOD
And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who knows the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
Acts 1:24-26
The LOT has fallen on YOU!! It’s your turn to play your part in God’s mission and story.