The start of an NFL football game begins by the flipping of a coin, to determine which team starts on the offensive or
defensive side of the ball. Of course, the flipping of a coin provides a 50/50 chance, making a coin a useful tool when
there are two options to choose from. Other times, when three or more options are present, drawing straws might be
used to determine what happens next. Sometimes playing “Rock, Paper, Scissors” determines who does what. These
are all examples of chance; letting some unpredictable element decide the next step. The Bible speaks of something
similar, known as “casting lots” or “drawing lots”. However, casting lots is not as haphazard as the examples I just
provided. Casting lots is actually a serious and purposeful decision.
One example of casting lots, is found in Acts 1:12-26. After Jesus had ascended back into heaven, the disciples of Jesus
had gathered for a meeting. They knew that there was a vacancy in the cast of disciples, due to the absence of Judas
Iscariot (the man who had been counted among the twelve original disciples of Jesus, but who had never turned to Jesus
in faith). At this meeting, Peter, one of the prominent disciples, spoke and shared about the prophecy concerning Judas,
“For it is written in the book of Psalms, ‘LET HIS HOMESTEAD BE MADE DESOLATE, AND LET NO ONE DWELL IN IT’; and,
‘LET ANOTHER MAN TAKE HIS OFFICE.’ “Therefore it is necessary that of the men who have accompanied us all the
time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us-beginning with the baptism of John until the day that He was
taken up from us – one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.” So they put forward two men,
Joseph called Barsabbas (who was also called Justus), and Matthias. And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know
the hearts of all men, show which one of these two You have chosen to occupy this ministry and apostleship from
which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” And they drew lots for them, and the lot fell to Matthias; and he
was added to the eleven apostles.”
In this example we see that drawing lots is the end of a process of discernment, where the Lord is to make the final
decision between these two candidates. This drawing of lots was necessary because no other discernable outcome had
been revealed up to that point. This does not mean that God is ignored during the decision-making process, or that He
is only consulted at the end. A closer look at this example reveals that the two candidates were carefully presented as
the best options for filling the office that Judas Iscariot had occupied. These men were selected because of their
genuine faith, their longstanding discipleship under Jesus, and their righteous character. After these two men were put
forth, further prayer and discussion had still not revealed a clear choice; both were equally qualified. That left them
with the final option of casting lots. We see that casting lots is done by simply flipping a coin, or drawing straws, etc. In
short, it’s a way of saying, “Lord, we’ve completed our due diligence, and have found the options to be equally valid. We
now cast lots in order to have You settle the decision.” So, casting lots is not avoiding the hard work of due diligence, but
it’s the rare and occasional step that proceeds when due diligence has not resulted in an obvious outcome.
A non-Bible example of casting lots happened with my brother. He and his wife knew God had called them overseas to
serve as missionaries. Their mission organization presented two viable landing spots; England and Albania. After much
prayer and consideration of the facts, they honestly couldn’t see one destination as a clear choice above the other. So,
they flipped a coin and said, “Lord, You make the call; heads we go to England, and tails we go to Albania.” It landed tails
and they’ve been in Albania for 30 years and counting. Again, it’s important to emphasize that the decision to cast lots
was done at the end of a long and discerning process.
Casting lots can be a favorable decision, and not a lazy decision. When done appropriately, it is an act that pleases the
Lord and shows a heart that trusts His guidance and provision. Proverbs 16:33 says, “The lot is cast into the lap, but its
every decision is from the Lord.” As well, Joshua 18:10 says, “Joshua cast lots for them in Shiloh in the presence of the
Lord, and there he distributed the land to the Israelites according to their tribal divisions.” Sometimes casting lots is a
command, such as in Leviticus 16:8 when the High Priest was to cast lots to determine which animal is to be the sacrifice
and which is to be the scapegoat, “He is to cast lots for the two goats—one lot for the Lord and the other for the
scapegoat.”
Some will wrongly say that casting lots is like “laying out a fleece”, such as in Judges 6. However, casting lots is nothing
like “fleecing”, as it’s called. Judges 6:36-40 speaks of Gideon trying to gain assurance of God’s Word, “Then Gideon said
to God, “If You will deliver Israel through me, as You have spoken, behold, I will put a fleece of wool on the threshing
floor. If there is dew on the fleece only, and it is dry on all the ground, then I will know that You will deliver Israel
through me, as You have spoken.” And it was so. When he arose early the next morning and squeezed the fleece, he
drained the dew from the fleece, a bowl full of water. Then Gideon said to God, “Do not let Your anger burn against
me that I may speak once more; please let me make a test once more with the fleece, let it now be dry only on the
fleece, and let there be dew on all the ground.” God did so that night; for it was dry only on the fleece, and dew was
on all the ground.”
Asking God for a sign, like fleecing, is asking God to do something supernatural and asking God to confirm something
He’d already said. God had already told Gideon that he would have victory, but Gideon was doubtful of God’s Word. So,
Gideon asked for a supernatural miracle to give him assurance. In God’s grace, He not only gave Gideon the miracle, but
did so twice. Casting lots is not at all asking God to do something supernatural, since flipping a coin or drawing straws is
not a miracle. Nobody would ever say, “Wow, the coin landed on heads! It’s a miracle! How else can we explain that it
landed on heads?” That would be silly. So, casting lots is not a supernatural sign, nor is it seeking confirmation for a
prior instruction. Casting lots is asking God to settle a matter when no prior instruction had been given.
