Sometimes things in the Bible don’t make sense, especially practices like drawing straws. On a ship to Tarshish, sailor’s casts lots to see who was to blame for the great storm. The smallest lot fell on Jonah, 1:7. When the disciples had to replace Judas after his death, they too cast lots in Acts 1:26. This time the lot fell on Matthias.
So what are modern day believers to make of this? Is this practice obsolete? Should casting lots be limited to certain situations? Or should we actively rely on this biblical practice? Jonah suggests that when a person like Jonah is not acting as they should be, you can use casting lots to weed out an negative influence. Acts 1 refers to certain qualifications that can serve as an initial divider, but God can reveal the right person for a position.
As I think about this biblical practice, I am reminded of Job’s words in his first 2 chapters, “the Lord gives and the Lord takes away.” All of us have lost someone or something, near and dear to our hearts. In life, some times we draw the smallest straw, resulting in losing a job, failing to succeed or remaining obscure for most of your life. When the lot falls of you, you have one of 2 choices, have a pity party or humble yourself before the Lord our God. In the end, even when all hope seems to fail, the Lord will lift up the humble, Proverbs 11:2. Like Jonah, walk the plank and pray God will send a whale to talk you where you belong.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 