2 minute read.
Daily Reading: 2 Samuel 17:1-29 ESV, John 19:23-42 ESV, Psalm 119:129-152 ESV, Proverbs 16:12-13 ESV
Daily Verse: “So they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be.” This was to fulfill the Scripture which says, “They divided my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.” (John 19:24 ESV)
LAGCHANO (2975): “determine (by impl. Receive) espec. By lot. Denotes ‘to draw lots, to obtain by casting lots’ and is translated ‘cast lots’ in John 19:24.”[i]
Draw lots.
Rolling different colored or marked stones determined who received Jesus’ garments; people also used broken pieces of pottery with names to decide the fates. Whatever means chosen, the lots fell divinely. In other words, God already knew what would happen. Casting lots became a way of discerning God’s will.
“The lot is cast into the lap,
but its every decision is from the Lord.” (Proverbs 16:33 ESV)
In other words, we throw the dice, and God determines how they fall. Casting lots for Christ’s clothes fulfilled the prophecy written by David (Psalm 22:18 ESV). Even in small details, God makes undeniable connections.
Divine acceptance.
As kids, often we’d play “Rock, Paper, Scissors” to determine who would do what. But as an adult, casting lots doesn’t come to mind when I’m discerning God’s will for my life. However, I do plan my schedule and pray over it.
Every week, usually on Sunday morning, I write my schedule in my planner. Then I pray over the upcoming appointments; I consider it my way of rolling the dice. As the week unfolds, some things get canceled, some added. I accept them as God’s will over mine when changes occur, divine acceptance.
However you choose to roll the dice, God determines the outcome. Win or lose, God uses it for kingdom work. Not everything will go our way in life; in fact, more doesn’t than does. Only one of the five guards won Jesus’s garments; not everyone can win.
But we can play the game well. When we align our hearts with God’s will, we can trust the dice roll, knowing Jesus has our best interest at heart.
[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 148) Thomas Nelson
