Contemplative Bible Reading

Luke 1:8-9 (New Living Translation)

8 One day Zechariah was serving God in the Temple, for his order was on duty that week. 9 As was the custom of the priests, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense.

This was a big event. Zechariah was in the sanctuary, an angel spoke to him. He and his wife were to have a son by a miracle. We would call that son John the Baptist.

Why was Zechariah in the sanctuary? He was chosen by lot. We aren’t told what type of “lot” was used here. Pull the short straw? Cut the cards? Think of a number between 1 and 10? It was, however, a decision by lot. (Gambling? No. It is unfortunate that mankind took the custom of choosing by lot and turned it into a crime-ridden vice that ruins many lives.)

When appropriate, God intervenes in choosing by lot. God manipulated the lot on this day in this place so that Zechariah would be in the sanctuary and meet Gabriel the angel.

God was involved in a simple little thing like pulling straws.

Let us remember that. The simplest little things may be moved by the hand of God. The problems of our world and our nation are big and complicated. Does the hand of God move them? I know it can. I don’t know if God sees my problems as being big or important or whatever it is God uses to choose. I don’t understand all there is to understand about how God acts. I’m just not smart enough (a big understatement).

Still, God can cause a cup of milk to spill so that a parent can help the child with loving, gentle kindness so that the child knows that the parent loves them and will always care for them. So that the child will learn to love and how to show love. Just a little spilled milk. Pretty amazing. Thank you, God.