February 23 God Says When

Estther 3:7 In the twelfth year of King Xerxes, in the first month, the month of Nisan, they cast the pur (that is, the lot) in the presence of Haman to select a day and month. And the lot fell on the twelfth month, the month of Adar.  
 
WHAT is this about lots being cast in the presence of Haman? First of all, the “they” are sorcerers and priests of Persia’s idols. “Pur” is Hebrew for “lot”. Casting a lot to make certain decisions or to reveal certain truths was done among the Jews under God’s sovereign authority. For example, lots were used to determine the distribution of the Promised Land (Num 26:55), choose Saul as Israel’s first king (1 Sam 10:20) and select Matthias to replace Judas as the 12th disciple (Acts 1:24-26).
    But as prayers to idols are useless, so is the casting of lots useless by those who serve demonic idols. The lot casting was more as flipping a coin to make a decision. Haman believed the idols he worshiped would determine the date for the Jews’ extermination.
    But we rejoice that it is the God of the universe who moved the lot to the Jews’ advantage. Nothing in our world is by chance. As recorded in Proverbs 16:33 The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord. “Rolling the dice”, “trying your luck” or “taking my chances” are phrases reflecting mankind’s cultural superstitions. Such words must not come from the lips of God’s faithful church.
    Haman believed the “pur” – the lots – gave to him a date for the Jews’ extermination. The date was nearly a year after the lots were cast. This timeframe would allow God’s plans to save his people unfold through Esther and Mordecai. In truth, then, it was God who was using the lots to set the date of the Jews salvation.  
 
Prayer: Lord God, forgive us for the words we use that diminish your sovereign authority. Teach us to speak with words that always acknowledge you are in control of each matter in our lives. In the Spirit’s truth we pray, amen.