Casting Lots

(Proverbs 18:18 KJV)  The lot causeth contentions to cease, and parteth between the mighty.

The idea of the “lot” (1486) comes close to the idea of gambling, at least to my modern ears.  The first mention of this is in Leviticus,

(Leviticus 16:8 KJV)  And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for the scapegoat.

Two goats were chosen.  One would be sacrificed, one set free into the wilderness.  To decide which was which, lots were cast.

The last casting of lots was picking a replacement for Judas.

(Acts 1:26 KJV)  And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

It would seem that if a decision could not be reached any other way, you could cast lots.  The primary use was to divide up the land after the conquest.  They trusted that God would bring it to pass the way He wanted.  Maybe this is still something we could use today.  Maybe we do when we flip a coin.

So?  Flip a coin?  Usually we have plenty of Biblical witness to tell us what the will of God is.  In cases where we have not clue I guess we could try the coin.  I am not comfortable with the idea, but it isn’t the only thing I don’t understand.