CASTING LOTS
Or, In Modern Lingo, Buying Lotto Tickets
Nuggets of Fire Proof Investments
Nugget 19
In Leviticus 16, Moses discusses Torah for the Day of Atonement, or Yom Kippur. Leviticus 16:8, “Then Aaron must cast lots for the two goats, one lot for Yahuwah, and the other lot for the departing goat.” It appears the Hebrews cast lots or drew straws, or had a mechanism for helping them determine Yahuwah’s will as to which goat lived and which goat was sacrificed. Casting the lot was a decision making tool in the day. It may have been two different colored pebbles, one light and one dark colored. Aaron may have held them behind his back and switched them between his two hands, then he may have had one of his sons pick a hand. That hand would determine which goat was sacrificed to Yahuwah. Some procedure like that was used.
King David carried this priestly tradition forward, as seen in 1 Chronicles 24:31, where David was creating the priestly divisions for service in the Tabernacle and future Temple.
It was a way to make a determine between one thing or another. Or, as Joshua did Gilgal in Joshua 14-17 and from Shiloh in Joshua 18 and 19, he cast lots to apportion the land of Canaan out to the tribes of Israel. It seems the Israelites used lots to help determine Yahuwah’s will. Ezekiel also speaks of dividing up the land of Israel by lot in Eze. 45 and 48. In Joshua 21 they used the lot to pick cities for the Levites to own and occupy.
Nehemiah used lots to determine who would bring wood into the Temple. Nehemiah 10:34, “The priests, the Levites, and the people cast lots for the wood offering. The lots would select which of our families would bring wood into the temple of our Divine One at the appointed times each year, to be burned on the altar of Yahuwah our Divine One, as it is written in the Torah.” Casting lots was a selection process that allowed Yahuwah’s will to be done.
Psalm 22:18 is the famous Messianic prophecy talking about determining who would get Yeshuwah’s precious seamless tunic. The soldiers used casting lots to decide who would get Yeshuwah’s tunic, so it would not have to be torn in pieces. See Matthew 27:35 and John 19:24 for the fulfillment of this prophecy.
In Proverbs, we see another method of casting lots, but also how the Hebrews understood the significance of it. Proverbs 16:33, “The lots are thrown into the lap, but the decision is from Yahuwah.” The Hebrew mind believed that Yahuwah worked through their use of casting lots to reveal his divine will to them.
The Apostles used casting lots to replace Judas Iscariot after the resurrection of Yeshuwah in Acts 1:26, “They cast lots for them; and the lot fell to Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.” In that Way, Yahuwah determined who the replacement 12th Apostle would be.
Casting lots was and is a way to recognize the sovereignty of Yahuwah in our lives, our history, and our destinies. The biblical casting of lots should not be confused with our modern understanding of gambling, or with gambling addictions. Buying a lotto ticket is not a sin if you have the disposable income to buy one. In fact, if you pray about your purchase of a scratch ticket or lotto ticket(s), Yahuwah can and will tell you which scratch ticket to buy or which numbers to play. Just understand that the final outcome is in Yahuwah’s hands, not yours, as Proverbs 16:33 states.
But if you take money that should be given to Yahuwah’s work, or used to buy groceries or pay your rent or mortgage for your family, then you have an addiction and need deliverance. It is never right to financially abuse your family to fulfill your lusts, covetousness, or addictions. Misuse of your family finances is just another form of abuse. If you are in that situation, you need prayer and deliverance, which Yahuwah and Yeshuwah are happy to help you with. Sins can be overcome if you are willing to deal with your sinful self. Study your Bible and learn Yahuwah’s Ways of handling finances. He gives us our abilities to make money, let him teach you how to use and invest your money.
Be a righteous Mordecai, not the evil Haman who cast lots to destroy the Jews in Esther’s day. Read the whole book of Esther, but take special note of Esther 3:7 and 9:24ff. Casting lots is just a tool, which can be used for good or for evil. It is the same with money, it is just a tool, but it can be used for good purposes or for evil purposes. Let Yahuwah help you determine which is which each time you think about buying something. Your walk with him will grow deeper and you will begin to understand the knowledge of good and evil. Yahuwah is sovereign and wants to be sovereign over your finances, so let him be Yahuwah in your life. He owns you and your money anyway, so learn to be a good steward of your whole life, including your finances.