In Acts chapter 1 we have the story of the disciples picking the replacement for Judas.
15 In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said, 16 “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. 17 For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.” 18 (Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. 19 And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their own language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) 20 “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.”
21 So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.” 23 And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias. 24 And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen 25 to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” 26 And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
History tells us that Matthias was a good choice but not necessarily the Lord’s choice. Matthias served the people well; he was a good deacon but did not function at the level of an apostle.
The apostles chose him by lots, kind of like praying, “God, as I flip the pages in my Bible, show me what you want to say to me today!” God can speak to you that way and any time you are reading the Bible is a good thing but what the Lord is looking for is maturity, we need to be seeking God rather than trusting chance to be a “God-word”.
God had a perfect choice, Saul. Saul was a persecutor of the church but God saw a man who was hungry for truth and had a heart to honor the Lord. It is important to seek God for our choices because often we can not see all that God sees. God saw in Saul, a Paul who would be willing to lay down his life for the Body of Christ. The Church saw only a persecutor.
God has given you wisdom, intelligence, and a command of knowledge in many areas but even in those things we need to seek God first. He knows all things so why not ask Him. He may have a better plan.
Proverbs 3:5 - 7 says this
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and depart from evil”
God always has a plan. He sent his Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth. Trust Him for your best decision. Don’t settle for a good decision.
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