God with Us

“The lot is cast into the lap, but the whole disposing of it is from Jehovah.” (Proverbs 16:33)

In those days before the Holy Spirit dwelled in God’s people, they cast lots, either by choosing or throwing objects to determine God’s Will. They believed whichever way the lot fell; God had determined the outcome. When Joshua brought the people to the Promised Land, he sent out three from each tribe to map out the land and divide it. Then the leaders cast lots to choose which portion they would receive. (Joshua 18:1-10) David cast lots to determine the duties of the priests so they would be evenly distributed. (1 Chronicles 24:1-5) The most known incident of casting lots was when the soldiers cast lots to divide the garments of Jesus. (Matthew 27:35; Mark 15:24; Luke 23:34; John 19:23-24) And when Judas was removed as apostle because of his betrayal of Jesus, the apostles cast lots to decide who would take his place. “And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples and said, (the number of names together was about a hundred and twenty,) Men, brothers, this Scripture must have been fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit by the mouth of David spoke before concerning Judas, who became guide to those who seized Jesus. For he was numbered with us and had obtained part of this ministry. Indeed, then, this one purchased a field with the reward of unrighteousness. And falling headlong, he burst apart in the middle, and all his bowels gushed out. And it was known to all the dwellers at Jerusalem, so much so that that field is called in their own dialect, Akeldama, that is to say, Field of Blood. For it is written in the Book of Psalms, "Let his estate become forsaken, and he not be living in it." And, "Let another take his overseership." Therefore, it is right that one of these men who have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus came in and went out among us, beginning from the baptism of John to that same day that He was taken up from us, to become a witness with us of His resurrection. And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. And they prayed and said, You, Lord, knower of all hearts, show which one You chose from these two, to take the share of this ministry and apostleship from which Judas fell, to go to his own place. And they gave forth their lots. And the lot fell upon Matthias. And he was numbered with the eleven apostles.” (Acts 1:15-26)

Casting lots is not necessary today. We have the Holy Spirit indwelling Who helps us, leads and guides us and reveals to us God’s Will. “However, when He, the Spirit of Truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth. For He shall not speak of Himself, but whatever He hears, He shall speak. And He will announce to you things to come.” (John 16:13) He guides us to all truth. To understand the immense meaning of this we need to understand that the Godhead is One. This is something we cannot grasp because it doesn’t exist in this earth. The Father, the Son, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit are separate individuals but One. They are in total agreement in everything. They are in constant communion with each other. What the Holy Spirit tells us, reveals to us or leads us to is what the Father wills and Jesus agrees with. We sing the song “Emmanuel, God with us...” And that is what has happened when Jesus finished the work of God’s mercy and grace and gave us the gift of salvation on the Cross and then His resurrection. He sent the Holy Spirit after He ascended to heaven. He didn’t abandon us. When we believe on Jesus, repent (turn away from our sin) and make Him our Lord, the Holy Spirit comes to indwell, to live in us. God the Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are with us through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. God is with us.  He walks with us. He hears what we say. He sees what we do. And He knows our thoughts.  And we are to speak to Him. Paul in his second letter to the Corinthians closes his letter wishing all fellowship with the Holy Spirit. “May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.” (2Corinthians 13:14) In the King James translation, the word is communion. In the original Greek the word is “koinōnia” which means “partnership, that is, (literally) participation, or (social) interchange or interaction, or - (to) communicate, communion or fellowship. (Strongs Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries)

The practice of casting lots is totally obsolete and unnecessary because we have the Holy Spirit. He is the One we ask for direction. He is the One Who has the answers we need. He is the One Who will guide us and lead us. We don’t have to take our chances with casting lots because we have the One Who knows all things past, present and future with us.