“Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God” (I Thessalonians 1:4).

As important as our national and local election processes may be (and we are commanded to pray for those in authority—I Timothy 2:1,2), God’s election is far more significant. Even those officials who are elected or appointed for life (e.g., federal judges) are in a much inferior category in comparison to those who are elected for eternity!

It is worth noting that none of the great leaders whose careers are described in the Bible—Abraham, Moses, Joshua, David, Paul, the twelve apostles, etc.—were chosen by any human election, but rather were chosen and appointed by God Himself. In fact, all “the powers that be are ordained of God” (Romans 13:1). One of the most absolute monarchs of all time, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, was eventually forced to acknowledge that “The most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever He will, and setteth up over it the basest of men” (Daniel 4:17).

The closest thing to any human election process mentioned in the Bible seems to be the casting of lots to choose between two or more possibilities. For example, when the disciples needed to select someone to replace Judas, “they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles” (Acts 1:26).

This system of casting lots is mentioned often in Scripture, and it seems like a haphazard way of making decisions, but at least it was preceded by prayer (Acts 1:24) and God used it. “The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD” (Proverbs 16:33). Today we cast ballots instead of lots and, judging from the types of men and women who are often elected, it is doubtful whether our modern method works any better. At any rate, each election should be preceded and followed by much prayer. HMM