More Choice Than Chance

According to the custom of the priestly office, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. Luke 1:9 (New American Standard Bible)

In Bible times, it was customary to make determinations and judgments by a process called ‘casting lots.’ This usually entailed putting a number of stones in a bag and drawing out one. Or in the case of the high priest there was the Urim and Thummim which was used to determine God’s will. Lots were cast to determine the possession of land by the tribes of Israel, to reveal a guilty party as in the cases of Achan, Jonathan, and Jonah, to choose a replacement for Judas, and even to determine which priest would enter the temple to burn incense as in the case of Zechariah. This was a common practice and apparently approved by God for there is no reference in these accounts that God condemned the practice.

Can you imagine making a decision today in what appears to be by ’chance’? Sometimes we have several options and they all seem to be valid and equal. Would we dare write them down on pieces of paper, put them in a bag, and allow the one we draw out to be God’s will for us? I get nervous just thinking about it. And yet that was a common practice in Bible times. Then I am reminded of Proverbs 16:33 which says, “The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.” What seems to be chance and blind choosing still comes down to God’s sovereignty.

It is easy to become concerned that wrong choices will be made in the course of our day, but above it all I must remember that God is still in control. That is not to say sinful choices will not have consequences. But ultimately God will direct thoughts, opportunities, and decisions in such a way (without violating our free will) to accomplish whatever it is He wants to accomplish.

This gives me a great deal of assurance and security. To realize the Creator of the universe is so personally involved in my life, shifts the weight of responsibility for my life to the shoulders of my heavenly Father. I no longer have to worry if I am in the right place at this time in my life. I no longer have to play the mind game of “what if”. I have gone back many times to decisions I have made in the past that have drastically changed the course of my life. It is easy to second guess myself and wonder if I somehow ’messed up’ God’s plans for my life. But Proverbs 16:9reminds me “The mind of a man plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps.”

Father, I feel safe in Your hands. What has seemed like my own choices have really been the puzzle pieces to the portrait of my life that You are putting together. I trust You! Amen.

Be Still My Soul- Selah
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9zHn4QSH-8&feature=related

Getting into God's Word and letting God's Word get into me one truth at a time.