Finding God's Will about particular situations by casting lots

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Lucian_Hodoboc

Lucian_Hodoboc

Junior Member
#1
Dec 28, 2017
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#1
The Bible mentions the practice of casting lots, which apparently was allowed by God under both the Old and the New Covenants. According to this article, we don't have a lot of information about what casting lots meant, but it would probably have been similar to the modern day practice of flipping a coin or rolling a dice. Do you think that trying to find God's will by flipping a coin after praying to God is a sin if we do it nowadays? I have done it, and I have also tried to find out God's Will about certain situations by opening the Bible at a random page in hope of finding a revelatory passage that would offer me guidance, but I only got more confused after doing so. Have I sinned by doing these things and should I repent about it?
 
Demi777

Demi777

Senior Member
#2
Oct 13, 2014
6,889
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Germany
#2
Its superstition and not Christian. Faith and letting God lead you is the way and not following superstition
 
Didymous

Didymous

Senior Member
#3
Feb 22, 2018
5,047
2,101
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#3
The last time it's mentioned in the bible is in Acts. Matthias was one of the two chosen, but you never read anything about him after that.
 
Didymous

Didymous

Senior Member
#5
Feb 22, 2018
5,047
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#5
Lucian_Hodoboc said:
Is that your personal opinion or can you quote any Bible verse to support the claim?
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Perhaps the fact that it was only mentioned once in Acts? If it was God's will for us, I would think Paul would've given one of the churches, at least, instruction to do this.
A few examples in the old testament, and only one in the new seems to indicate no further use for it. Whatever happened to Matthias, anyway? No further mention of him.
 
posthuman

posthuman

Senior Member
#6
Jul 31, 2013
37,780
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#6
technically it's mentioned twice in the NT

Matthew 27:35
When they had crucified Him, they divided up His clothes by casting lots.

... which was a fulfilling of Psalm 22:18
i wonder who wound up with His garment? the soldiers believed who He is, after they saw how He died ((Matt 27:54))
 
posthuman

posthuman

Senior Member
#7
Jul 31, 2013
37,780
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#7
Lucian_Hodoboc said:
I have also tried to find out God's Will about certain situations by opening the Bible at a random page in hope of finding a revelatory passage that would offer me guidance, but I only got more confused after doing so. H
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it would far more useful to pray and to use a search tool to find portions of scripture relevant to what you're trying to sort out, then read & meditate on them... ;)
 
dcontroversal

dcontroversal

Banned
#8
Dec 12, 2013
46,515
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#8
I pray and flip a coin quite regularly....and it works out very well the majority of the time and usually the only time it doesn't is when I second guess it or don't go with the toss.....
 
H

Hungry

Banned
#11
Nov 26, 2012
3,095
1,050
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#11
Where’s the line though. Can we call a deck of tarot cards, Holy Spirit cards and deal em out? I say do a test. Ask God to answer you through a coin. Then ask Him questions you already know answers to. Should I divorce my wife and run away with my secretary? Should I kill that guy who cut me off at that intersection. Can I remortgage the house and invest in heroine to sell to the neighbours? See just how many times you get what you think the answer should be. If he tells you to divorce your wife, randomly kill and be a drug dealer, maybe your answers should not be decided by the fate of a coin.
 
K

KnowMe

Guest
#12
#12
Lucian_Hodoboc said:
The Bible mentions the practice of casting lots, which apparently was allowed by God under both the Old and the New Covenants. According to this article, we don't have a lot of information about what casting lots meant, but it would probably have been similar to the modern day practice of flipping a coin or rolling a dice. Do you think that trying to find God's will by flipping a coin after praying to God is a sin if we do it nowadays? I have done it, and I have also tried to find out God's Will about certain situations by opening the Bible at a random page in hope of finding a revelatory passage that would offer me guidance, but I only got more confused after doing so. Have I sinned by doing these things and should I repent about it?
Click to expand...
if not mistaking I think it was similar to casting names in a hat but it was a box with a hole that a stone passed through.
 
p_rehbein

p_rehbein

Senior Member
#13
Sep 4, 2013
30,669
6,860
113
#13
Lucian_Hodoboc said:
The Bible mentions the practice of casting lots, which apparently was allowed by God under both the Old and the New Covenants. According to this article, we don't have a lot of information about what casting lots meant, but it would probably have been similar to the modern day practice of flipping a coin or rolling a dice. Do you think that trying to find God's will by flipping a coin after praying to God is a sin if we do it nowadays? I have done it, and I have also tried to find out God's Will about certain situations by opening the Bible at a random page in hope of finding a revelatory passage that would offer me guidance, but I only got more confused after doing so. Have I sinned by doing these things and should I repent about it?
Click to expand...
It's not a sin to randomly open your Bible to see what Scriptures you find, but it also isn't a very good way to determine what Gods will is for you either. Sincere prayer, and being open to the guidance of the Holy Spirit is the very best way to learn what God has for you to do........

God doesn't work in "random" ways. He, from the beginning, has had a Master Plan.
 
Didymous

Didymous

Senior Member
#14
Feb 22, 2018
5,047
2,101
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#14
posthuman said:
technically it's mentioned twice in the NT

Matthew 27:35
When they had crucified Him, they divided up His clothes by casting lots.

... which was a fulfilling of Psalm 22:18
i wonder who wound up with His garment? the soldiers believed who He is, after they saw how He died ((Matt 27:54))
Click to expand...
You are correct, sir. I was only thinking of believers, which is why I didn't remember that example.
You at e
 
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