The act of casting lots or drawing straws is widely considered an antiquated way of making decisions. In the Old Testament, Jews and pagans used lots as a way of making decisions, but that practice was never used or prescribed after the Holy Spirit was given to believers in the New Testament.
Elders and individuals should be careful not to turn casting lots or drawing straws into a method or prognostication tool in determining the will of God for the future. Though these practices were used in ancient biblical times, it was while the Bible was being written and before the Holy Spirit was indwelling in believers. Jesus, nor any of the apostles, ever prescribed or mentioned this as a way of finding the will of God or allowing the Holy Spirit to lead.
The use of lots in the Bible
Lots are mentioned numerous times in the Old Testament, but only three times in the New Testament. One of these was before Christ was born in Luke 1:9. Second, the Romans used lots to decide who would get Jesus’ garments (John 19:24), and was solely mentioned to fulfill the Old Testament prophecy
(Psalm 22:18) that this would happen.
The final occurrence of lots being used for a decision, and the only time we see a lot used after Christ, was just before the Holy Spirit was given to the Church (Acts 1:25–26). The disciples were to choose a replacement for the apostolic position when Judas fell by transgression. Acts 1:26 says, “And they cast their lots, and the lot fell on Matthias. And he was numbered with the eleven apostles.” Pentecost is found Acts 2.
After the Holy Spirit was sent to abide with believers, lots were not mentioned in the rest of Acts nor by Paul, Peter, James, or any New Testament epistle writer.
Do lots let the Holy Spirit decide?
God used various means in ancient days to communicate His will, but after the New Covenant, He wants believers to be mature in the Word and depend on the Holy Spirit to know Him and to do His will.
Hebrews 1:1–2 says, “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in times past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son” (emphasis mine). Jesus’ arrival supersedes previous examples of God’s speaking and revealing through prediction methods. As a result, lots should not be used in the evangelical church today.
The Core Issue
The desire to cast lots or draw straws begs the question: do you believe the Holy Spirit and the Authority of God’s Word is enough? If the Word of God is truly sufficient, then there should be no need for us to look to outside methods for determining His will.
The reasons Christians no longer practice casting lots as a viable option to discerning God’s will are as follows:
- We have the complete revelation of God’s heart and mind in Scripture which is sufficient and alive (2 Timothy 3:16–17; Hebrews 4:12–13).
- As a Christian, we have been transformed and can discern the will of God (Romans 12:1–2;
1 Corinthians 2:12, 16). - The indwelling Holy Spirit leads us and teaches us (John 14:26; 1 John 2:27).
- Casting lots is not shown to be used as a practice by the apostles, and we shouldn’t take it as something prescribed for the church to continue to practice today.
Using foretelling practices is dangerous. This could be mistaken as no different as flipping a coin or using an Ouija board and hoping it is the Holy Spirit influencing the outcome.
It’s not that the Holy Spirit can’t operate through casting lots; it’s that He doesn’t operate through casting lots. Instead, we see a constant message in the New Testament that commands Christians to seek His will through Scripture, prayer, and the mind of Christ displayed through the wisdom of other believers. Ephesians 5:15–17, “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”
We seek to have the Bible guide us, assisted by the revelation of the Holy Spirit’s power, and the collective wisdom of fellow believers. Romans 12:1–2 states, “being transformed in the renewal of your mind that you may be able to prove what is the will of God, what is good, acceptable and perfect.” In a church that is empowered by the Spirit of God, God speaks not through lots, but through the Spirit (e.g., Acts 11:12; 13:2; 15:28).
Questions for Discussion
- What Bible teachers, that you admire and look up to, teach that casting lots is valid for today?
- What other Evangelical churches, that you respect, utilize casting lots as a decision-making tool?
- Can you give examples of when you’ve used this method for making decisions in your household?
True. We need to teach our children to be wary of games that seem innocent but can lead some into occultist practices like the Ouija board. When used for trivial matters, however, such as flipping a coin, we needn’t be overly legalistic about it. Proverbs 18:18 suggests casting lots as a way of settling arguments.