1 Chronicles 6:61-65: a reflection

61To the rest of the sons of Kohath were given by lot, out of the family of the tribe, out of the half-tribe, the half of Manasseh, ten cities. 62To the sons of Gershom, according to their families, out of the tribe of Issachar, and out of the tribe of Asher, and out of the tribe of Naphtali, and out of the tribe of Manasseh in Bashan, thirteen cities. 63To the sons of Merari were given by lot, according to their families, out of the tribe of Reuben, and out of the tribe of Gad, and out of the tribe of Zebulun, twelve cities. 64The children of Israel gave to the Levites the cities with their pasture lands. 65They gave by lot out of the tribe of the children of Judah, and out of the tribe of the children of Simeon, and out of the tribe of the children of Benjamin, these cities which are mentioned by name.

This passage records how the cities for the Levites were assigned: they were given by lot, out of the various tribes. The Levites, who had no territory of their own, received their cities not by negotiation or maneuvering, but by lot, the distribution left to God to determine. Rather than each family grasping to secure the best cities for itself, the allotment was entrusted to God, and each received what fell to it.

Notice the method: the cities were assigned by lot. Casting lots was a way of leaving an outcome in God's hands, rather than settling it by human strength, favoritism, or negotiation. The Levites did not fight over the cities or angle to secure advantage; they let the lot fall, trusting that what came to them was what God assigned. There is a kind of peace in this, in leaving to God what might otherwise become a source of grasping and strife.

That points to a wisdom we often lack: entrusting outcomes to God rather than grasping to control everything ourselves. We are prone to maneuver, negotiate, and grasp to secure the best for ourselves, treating outcomes as things we must control. But there is a place for entrusting to God what is beyond our control, or what we should not grasp after, receiving what he assigns rather than fighting for advantage. Where you are tempted to grasp and maneuver to control an outcome, consider instead entrusting it to God, as the Levites left the allotment to him. Not everything is ours to control; there is peace in leaving to God what is his to assign, and receiving what he gives rather than grasping for more.

Lord, the Levites received their cities by lot, leaving the distribution to you rather than to negotiation, favoritism, or grasping; they trusted that what fell to them was what you assigned. Give me the wisdom I often lack: to entrust outcomes to you rather than grasping to control everything myself. I am prone to maneuver, negotiate, and grasp to secure the best for myself, treating outcomes as things I must control. But there is a place for entrusting to you what is beyond my control, or what I should not grasp after, receiving what you assign rather than fighting for advantage. Where I am tempted to grasp and maneuver to control an outcome, help me instead to entrust it to you, as the Levites left the allotment to you. Not everything is mine to control; give me peace in leaving to you what is yours to assign, and help me receive what you give rather than grasping for more. I trust you with what is beyond my control.