Casting Lots or Not

“They proposed two men…Then they prayed…Then they cast lots.” Acts 1:23-26

Sometimes you simply must decide. Will you or won’t you? Do you or don’t you? This is or that one or which one? When you find yourself facing a choice, how do you know what’s right, what’s best, and what is God’s will? “If you’re seeking, God will show you,” we’re told, and it’s true. But haven’t you ever had a time when God wasn’t exactly specific? A time when through God’s Word, your circumstances, and others’ wisdom, the choices had been narrowed to a few, but the final answer wasn’t obvious? Ever had to choose? Ever wondered and worried about your choice? If so, read on and relax.

Jesus had ascended and His followers had assembled, but one was noticeably absent—Judas. His “get rich quick” scheme of betrayal had backfired, and distress led to his death by suicide. Since eleven seemed an odd number in more ways than one, Peter stood up and suggested they find someone to fill the empty slot. “May another take his place of leadership”(Acts 1:20). To narrow the number of candidates, Peter outlined the qualifications. An apostle is one who is sent as a messenger, so the chosen man must have heard the message first hand, from the start. “It is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time…beginning from John’s baptism to the time Jesus was taken up from us”(Acts 1:21-22). The reason for these strict requirements was clear—“This man must become a witness with us of his resurrection”(Acts 1:22). One who would fill such big shoes needed to have walked with Jesus the whole way.

Out of the 120 present, two guys fit the bill—Barsabbas and Matthias. Both were willing, ready, and able. How would they decide between the two? They prayed and pulled out the dice. What?? This wasn’t a craps table in Vegas! It was the upper room in Jerusalem, and this was a matter of choice, not chance! Right? It was a matter of choice, but they trusted that God was in control of the roll. “Then they prayed, ‘Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen.’ Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias”(Acts 1:24-26).

If you’ve ever prayed and reprayed, searched and researched, weighed and reweighed, and God’s answer still seems to be two, take some advice from Peter’s dice. Pray and pick one. Then go with it. A friend shared a story that made this make sense. He had to choose a graduate school, and after searching and researching, weighing and reweighing, praying and repraying, two universities sat at the top of his list, and God didn’t seem to be leaning one way or the other. With the deadline looming, he prayed and picked. Half a career later, he told me, “I think both were the right choice. I believe it was one of those times when God said, ‘You love me and I love you, so just go, and live for my praise at either place.’” My friend said, “As I look back, I see how my choice was right, but if I had gone to the other school, I don’t believe it would have been wrong.”

Someone reading these words is in this spot. You need to choose, but the choice isn’t clear. The deadline looms, and the list sits at two. Instead of thinking that God is waiting to mark one wrong, consider that He’s already checked both right. Just pray and pick. Then go with it. And God will go with you. His will isn’t by chance, and He’ll be with you in your choice.

He’s still in control of the roll.