Aug 22 2022 - Casting Lots by Random Numbers

 

We humans are not very good at making random numbers.  We need something other than us to decide this.  I remember having to generate random numbers for some database testing, and I couldn't do it from my head.  They ended up in patterns. We figured out some external method. It got me thinking about the purpose of dice - those little random number generators on a cube.  I think of dice as gambling devices more than mathematical instruments.  So I looked it up, and both are the historical case.  The mathematical instrument historically is often known as casting lots.  That's mostly divination - asking for knowledge of the future or something unknown.  In the past this was significant as humans thought that there were a lot of gods/God overseeing human things and we should get their guidance. That's why the Bible's Old Testament is full of references to casting lots.  My favourite is that a guilty party is found by lot.  Remember Jonah and the whale - he was chosen by lot.  Land was divided up  by casting lots - so the numbers generated weren't random - they were "God's will" as to who got what.  That wouldn't be so pleasing for everyone.   Some ordinary things were decided by lots - who got which guard duties.  But what about the Book of Esther in which Haman casts lots to decide the date on which to exterminate the Jews. That's the Old Testament is a harsh and cruel world. The New Testament is different. That's where love is meant to conquer all and prayer is the vehicle for answers.  The 2 references  to casting lots - to divide up Jesus' clothing and for choosing Judas successor in the apostles group.   That last one is Divination  -  reverted to after Christ died - “Lord, you know everyone’s heart.  Show us which of these two you have chosen".   Other than those two, there don't seem to be any references to Jesus teachings/preachings on the practice of casting lots. Should we make decisions today by casting lots or throwing the dice?  I think most of us think that's a silly question rather than an unusual one. There isn't a dominant worry about "God's will" and subsequent wrath of being doomed to hell fire.  Turn left or turn right - flip a coin.  We like to make meaning when it comes to things.  We like to turn right or left for a reason.

There are lots of flower crops in Niagara - in the greenhouses and in the fields.  This one is on Fourth Avenue towards Jordan.  I think this must actually be a sunflower seed crop - if it were a flower crop these would be gone by now - harvested before the blooms were this far out. Read more daily posts here: marilyncornwellblog.com Purchase works here: Fine Art America- marilyncornwellart.com Redbubble - marilyncornwellart.ca