“The lot causeth contentions to cease, and parteth between the mighty.” (Proverbs 18:18)

Several times in Scripture, we see this idea of casting lots; which is not really much different than rolling the dice, or flipping a coin. Is the Bible really talking about letting chance determine important issues? Absolutely not!

On the contrary, the people in the Bible did not even believe in chance. They believed so whole-heartedly in the fact that God was in control of every detail in the universe, that they believed He controlled the outcome whenever they cast lots.

Don’t believe me? Sound crazy?

Look again at the story of Jonah. In chapter 1, verse 7, of the Book of Jonah, we see the men on the ship casting lots to determine whose fault it was that God was sending the storm against them. Now I understand some people may say that the men on the ship were pagans, not true believers.

Well, let’s see what Jesus’ disciples thought about casting lots. In Acts 1:24-26, we see Peter leading the Apostles to cast lots to determine who God wanted to replace Judas in the ministry. So, Peter believed that God would control the outcome of the lots after he prayed and asked God to reveal His Will to them.

The question then becomes: Is this something we should do?

Most people would immediately answer: No! But let me ask you: Why would your answer be “No”?

If it is only because you seek the Will of God in other ways, and trust God to reveal Himself; then that is alright.

However, for many people, I fear the honest answer would be that they don’t really trust that God would control the outcome of the lots.

Do you really trust that God is in control? Proverbs 16:33 can’t be any clearer:

“The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD.”

This verse clearly says that God determines the outcome of the lots you cast. I am not suggesting that you should start rolling a set of dice to determine God’s Will in your life. What I am saying is that the Apostles proved how much they trusted that God was in control when they cast lots. The big word preachers use for this is the “Sovereignty” of God. That means He is The Sovereign. In other words, He is the King; He is in control; He reigns on His Throne over everything that happens.

Do you trust that? Do you trust that God could make the morning dew wet a fleece, but leave the grass dry one day; and then do the exact opposite the next day – just to tell you what His Will is? That is exactly what happened with Gideon. He trusted God was Sovereign. (Read Judges 6:36-40.)

How might this kind of trust look in our lives?

Let me answer that question by asking another: How many Christians live their lives in fear that they will not make the right choices and somehow miss out on God’s true plan for their lives; as if God has a perfect plan for them, but will not tell them what it is?

While it is true that God does not tell us what His plan is for our lives; He does tell us that He has a plan. He is in control.

If you truly trust that God is in control, you will not live in fear of making the wrong choices, or of missing out on His Will.

Here is what I am suggesting: Pray for God to reveal His Will to you. But you should also pray for God to direct your path, even when He chooses not to reveal His Will to you.

Then comes the hardest part: You need to trust Him! Trust that God does have it all under control. Trust that your current circumstances have not caught Him off guard; as if He didn’t see it coming.

Then, you need to take a step. You need to act. Trust that God will guide your steps. Proverbs 16:9 says:

“A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.”

Trust the Lord to direct your steps. There is no such thing as chance. Then trust God even when He directs you in a difficult way. He has a good reason for it, because He is a good God.