Making Decisions in the will of God . . .

A school class voted to adopt a mascot. They purchased a hamster. The children were excited to have this animal in their room and often gathered to watch it. One day, someone asked, “Is this a girl or a boy hamster?” The teacher said she didn’t know. After some speculation, one child said, “I know what to do. Let’s vote on it.”

This is an amusing story — but not when the same principle is used to discover the will of God, particularly His will on moral and behavioral issues. What if someone wondered if they should divorce their spouse and rolled dice to decide? Or if someone wanted to rob a bank, or cheat on their income tax and made the decision based on picking a number from a bag? What if a company or a country determined whether to cheat their shareholders or members by taking a vote at the leadership level?

When God’s will is the issue, Christians should affirm that it is found in God’s Word. Those who would rather not bring God into the decision sometimes use other methods for making decisions, like rolling dice or taking a vote, or asking themselves if they want to do it or not.

I’m glad that I can determine the will of God by reading His Book. But what if the puzzle I’m trying to solve is not specifically there? The stories in Acts are helpful. These early Christians didn’t have the New Testament, only the older Scriptures. Some of their problems were not easily settled. For instance, they wanted to replace Judas who had hung himself after betraying Jesus. How would they know God’s mind on this important decision?

To discover His will they first gathered together, making sure of their unity and devoting themselves to seeking the mind of God . . . 

And when they had entered (Jerusalem), they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers. (Acts 1:13–14)

This was not quickly decided. The next verses say it took them a while . . .

In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said, “Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.”

Peter gave the gory story of Judas’ death and read a prophecy from the Word of God that they did have:

“For it is written in the Book of Psalms, “May his camp become desolate, and let there be no one to dwell in it” and “Let another take his office.”

Peter told the group they needed to replace Judas with someone who had been with them “a witness to his resurrection.” The believers put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias.

And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles. (Acts 1:15–26)

The first time I read this, I was shocked. They picked the man by rolling dice! But then it becomes plain that this was not the same as letting chance decide. They already had prayed many days. They asked God to show them which man He wanted, and they trusted their God. He could speak worlds into existence, turn water into wine, tell storms to cease, raise the dead. Revealing His will to them (likely by stones in a bag not the dice used today) was a simple thing for God.

The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord. (Proverbs 16:33)

More importantly, this is the last time in the Bible lots were said to be used to determine God’s will. Also, this was not a moral question but a matter of making a choice between two men who were probably equally qualified. From that time on, God did not motivate His people to use lots to make decisions. They had the Holy Spirit and could rely on Him working in their hearts to agree on important matters.

We have attended many different local churches. One stands out in my memory for making godly decisions. It is elder-ruled as described in the NT but they do not use a “majority rules” principle. They pray and seek 100% agreement. If that does not happen, they table the decision. They will listen to those who disagree and at times overturned a 99% vote because the majority realized the one who said NO correctly understood God’s will.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Lord Jesus, I know the Holy Spirit can produce unity. I also know that You can show us Your will through Your Word and by Your Spirit. I’m glad we are not confined to casting lots or voting because our wills and biases can mess with good decisions. Your life is the measure for many choices and Your Word gives me more than I need to know what You want. Thank You.