God’s sovereignty assures believers that when we commit to doing His will and make decisions according to His Word, we cannot go wrong. Our decisions will not always be wise. But God will always weave our choices into His good will. God’s grace assures believers that He loves us and will never leave us, no matter our failures. 

How can I know God’s will? That generic question takes shape in a host of intimidating choices God’s people face.

What if we could just flip a coin, draw straws, or roll dice and do whatever the object indicated? Didn’t people in the Bible do something like that sometimes? But before we cast off all responsibility for making reasoned decisions, we should try to understand lot casting in Scripture and determine whether it serves as a pattern for our decision-making today. If it doesn’t, is there a better way?

The Question of Casting Lots

In Israel’s early years, God taught His people that “the lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord” (Prov. 16:33). He also equipped the high priest with instruments known as the Urim and Thummim (Ex. 28:30; 1 Sam. 14:41; 28:6; Ezra 2:63), something like two stones which were placed in a bag and, as one or the other was drawn out, answered simple “yes” or “no” questions. The casting of lots identified the sacrificial scapegoat (Lev. 16:8), the divisions of the land of Canaan (Josh. 18:6–8), and the tasks of the Levites and musicians (1 Chron. 24:31; 25:8). The practice carried over into the New Testament among both the Jewish religious leaders (Luke 1:9) and Christian disciples; Matthias was chosen by lot to replace the Apostle Judas (Acts 1:26). Conscientious lot casting was an appropriate way of discerning the Lord’s will in unique situations in which existing revelation provided insufficient insight.

So should such methods be used today? There are good reasons why John Piper says, “I think it’s a bad idea, almost always.”1

Lot Casting Has Always Been Unusual

The eighty Old Testament references to the lot represent just a tiny fraction of the decisions Scripture records. The overwhelming majority of decisions have always been made by the practice of wisdom. Godly people never cast lots to make decisions on the many matters about which God had already clearly revealed His will.

Lot Casting Preceded God’s Complete Revelation

With one scriptural exception (Acts 1:26), lot casting was one of the many ways by which God spoke to His people in time past before speaking through His Son (Heb. 1:1–2). And the example of replacing Judas was special—Apostles had to be chosen directly by Jesus.2 Later, God gave the church clear instructions for identifying (1 Tim. 3:1–13; Titus 1:5–9) and appointing leaders (Acts 6:1–7). R.C. Sproul argues that by casting lots:

We’re asking God to give us direct, immediate revelation which He gave in sacred Scripture. But when the canon of Scripture was closed we don’t get that kind of supernatural revelation afforded to us today. . . . We’re called to live our lives and to make our decisions on the basis of the teaching of Scripture.3

Lot Casting Was a Pre-Pentecost Phenomenon

In the Old Testament, the Spirit occasionally helped people fulfill hard callings (Ex. 28:30), make tough decisions, and see beyond their contemporaries (Dan. 5:11, 14). Isaiah prophesied of Christ that “the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord” (Isa. 11:2). When Christ ascended into heaven, He poured out “the Spirit of wisdom” (Eph. 1:17) on all believers.

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1. John Piper, “What Do You Think of Casting Lots to Determine God’s Will?” (Desiring God, March 23, 2009); https://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/what-do-you-think-of-casting-lots-to-determine-gods-will. ↩

2. Kevin DeYoung, “Should Churches Select Elders by Casting Lots?” (The Gospel Coalition, February 11, 2011); https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/kevin-deyoung/should-churches-select-elders-by-casting-lots/. ↩

3. R.C. Sproul, “Message 10, Ask R.C. Live” (July 2014); https://www.ligonier.org/learn/conferences/live-qa-events/ask-rc-live-july-2014/. ↩