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Calvinist Proof-Texts Answered: How Does the Lord Direct a Man's Steps?
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Calvinist Proof-Texts Answered: Are All Gambling Results Ordained of God?
Calvinist Proof-Texts Answered
“The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD.” (Prov. 16:33)
Are All Gambling Results Ordained of God?
“Therefore Saul said unto the LORD God of Israel,
Give a perfect lot. And Saul and Jonathan were taken: but the people
escaped. And Saul said, Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son.
And Jonathan was taken.” (1 Sam. 14:41-42)
“And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest
the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen, That he
may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by
transgression fell, that he might go to his own place. And they gave
forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with
the eleven apostles.” (Acts 1:24-26)
Commentary: In Scripture, when lots were cast BEFORE
THE LORD it was their method of receiving guidance from Him to help them decide
correctly (Lev. 16:8; Josh. 18:6-10). As seen in the 1 Sam. 14 and Acts 1, this
type of lot casting was done with prayer. It is this manner of casting lots
that is being spoken of in Prov. 16:33. The passage is not speaking about God
determining the outcome of every gambling endeavor. Joel 3:3 says, “And they
have cast lots for my people; and have given a boy for an harlot, and sold a
girl for wine, that they might drink” (see also Obad. 10-12). God is not a
party to child prostitution; therefore, He does not determine the outcome of
those who gamble for them (Matt. 18:5, 6, 10, 14).