Chance And God

Many people know that Chinese Taoists evolved a complex methodology for interacting with random chance called the I-Ching. Many people do not know that Judeo-Christian history also shares some of these ancient beliefs centered on the notion that God makes His will known to us through the outcomes of random events. Students of the Kabbalah are probably familiar with Old Testament allusions to hidden meanings. Christians might be surprised to read some New Testament references to chance and God that are bluntly plain, not hidden at all. Perhaps the most obvious is from early in the Acts of the Apostles:

“...of these men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John to that day when He was taken up from us, one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.” And they proposed two: Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. And they prayed and said, “You, O Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which of these two You have chosen to take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.” And they cast their lots, and the lot fell on Matthias. And he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

Acts of the Apostles
chapter 1, verses 21-26