Choosing by Chance
Choosing by Chance
Words of Faith 9-11-24
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2024
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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1 Samuel 10
[17] Samuel summoned the people of Israel to the LORD at Mizpah [18] and said to them, "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'I brought Israel up out of Egypt, and I delivered you from the power of Egypt and all the kingdoms that oppressed you.' [19] But you have now rejected your God, who saves you out of all your calamities and distresses. And you have said, 'No, set a king over us.' So now present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes and clans." [20] When Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel near, the tribe of Benjamin was chosen. [21] Then he brought forward the tribe of Benjamin, clan by clan, and Matri's clan was chosen. Finally Saul son of Kish was chosen. But when they looked for him, he was not to be found.
It is interesting to think that Israel's first king was chosen... by chance. Maybe that is not the best word. But Saul was selected from among the tribes and families of Israel by the casting of lots. Isn't that... chance?
Of course, the Lord had already spoken to the prophet Samuel about the choice of Saul to be anointed as king. So maybe the fact that the casting of lots confirmed that choice was some sort of a miracle! The casting of lots was the standard manner of choosing or deciding things under the providence of God in ancient Israel. If you think about it that way, such a practice reveals a tremendous trust that God is entirely in charge of even the smallest event, such as how small stones might fall when tossed to the ground. So God was at work in all this.
In the early days of the church, the casting of lots was used again to choose between two qualified men proposed to fill the empty position among the Twelve Apostles. On another occasion, the first deacons were nominated based on qualification, which was confirmed by the Twelve, who laid hands upon them. Later in the church's history, the leaders-- teachers and prophets-- prayed and fasted until the Holy Spirit spoke to them regarding the leadership of Saul and Barnabas and the mission before them.
All this raises a set of questions. Do we trust God? Do we trust God to be at work in the various systems set and ordained for making decisions and choosing people to do things? Do we trust that God is at work in systems and methods that we don't agree with or cannot control?
How about in governments? Paul wrote to the Roman believers that everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves (Romans 13:1-2).
So what do we do when the king, ruler, or government in charge is not working in a godly way? After all, some governments and rulers perpetrate evil practices and even submit themselves to false gods. What do we do with all that?
Daniel is a remarkable example of a Godly man who resisted a pagan king but was willing to pay the consequences for doing so. He trusted the true God so much that he was willing to endure whatever might result from his civil disobedience. And as every school child knows, God was faithful to shut the mouths of the lions that were supposed to tear Daniel apart.
And remember Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego? They were also examples of men who trusted the sovereign care of God and refused to bow to the idolatrous demands of the king. Threatened with death by fire, they replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up" (Daniel 3:16-18). God also delivered them to safety and even visited them in the flames of the fiery furnace.
So when governments, rulers, and kings are not exactly what we would point to as godly, or when it appears things have been left to chance or the wrong choice has been made, can we trust that God is indeed still God? Can we trust that God is still in charge? Can we trust that God still knows what He is doing in men's affairs and the world's history? I think so. In fact, I know so.
Father God, teach me to trust even the things that appear random or chance. Help me to know that You are never surprised by the elements of history or the movements of time. Help me trust that You are indeed in charge and will complete the plans that You have started. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2024
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
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The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail, excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2024 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.