[Pim Pendergast]

When my wife told me someone had been stealing from the cookie jar, I called my four children into the living room and asked the thief to come forward. No one fessed up, so I cast lots and found out it was my youngest son, Peter. He was dealt with accordingly – with the rod. Casting lots to determine guilt is a thoroughly Biblical practice. Take the story of Jonah.

Jon1:3 But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.
Jon1:4 But the LORD sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken.
[. . .]
Jon1:7 And they said every one to his fellow, Come, and let us cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this evil is upon us. So they cast lots, and the lot fell upon Jonah.

Jonah disobeyed God by trying to sail away to Tarshish, so He sent a storm. To find out who had brought the storm on, the crew cast lots and found that Jonah was responsible. Johnathan was also found guilty by lot (1 Sam 14:42) and Achan probably was as well (Jos 7).

This has tremendous implications for our court system. We don’t need judges and juries. A truly theocratic society would determine guilt or innocence and settle civil disputes through casting lots.

Prov 18:18 The lot causeth contentions to cease, and parteth between the mighty.

The skeptic may object that we are relying on chance, but nothing could be further from the truth. Each roll of the dice reveals God’s will.

Prov 16:33 The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD.

The casting of lots is non-random. It is 100% reliable and accurate. It gives me great confidence to know that so many important decisions made in the Bible were determined by casting lots.

A new Apostle was appointed by lot.

Acts 1:23-26
And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.
24 And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen,
25 That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.
26 And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

The annual scapegoat was determined by lot.

Lev 16:8 And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for the scapegoat.

The division of the land of Canaan was determined by lot.

Jos 18:6 Ye shall therefore describe the land into seven parts, and bring the description hither to me, that I may cast lots for you here before the LORD our God.

Haman cast lots to determine on which day he would destroy the Jews. He didn’t succeed, of course, but at least he determined the day on which the Jews would celebrate Purim (Est 3:7; cf 9:26-28).

I feel sorry for all those poor deluded lost souls who read tea leaves or tarot cards to determine their fate. The Hebrew word for lot is gorawl (pebble). The ancient Hebrews cast stones to determine the will of God. Simple as that. The Bible warns against divination.

Deut 18:10 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch.

Lev 19:26 Ye shall not eat any thing with the blood: neither shall ye use enchantment, nor observe times.

Next time you need to solve a problem in the home or in the church, don’t rely on random investigative work – cast lots!