Casting lots was a method used by the Jews of the Old Testament and by the Christian disciples prior to Pentecost to determine the will of God. Lots could be sticks with markings, stones with symbols, etc., which were thrown into a small area, and then the result was interpreted. “The lot is cast into the lap, but it’s every decision is from the LORD,” (Prov. 16:33).
Scripture cites many instances of people casting lots, and it seems to be used when important decisions needed to be made, but there was not enough guidance that had already been provided through wisdom and/or Scripture. Also, God never condemned the casting of Lots in the Bible.
The Romans would do it as they would use it to help make decisions (Matthew 27:35/Psalm 22:18), but The Roman guards casting lots for Jesus' cloths may have been done to mock the Jewish practice of determining God's will; and sailors on Jonah’s ship (Jonah 1:7) also cast lots to determine who had brought God’s wrath upon their ship. They could have been sticks of various lengths, flat stones like coins, or some kind of dice; but their exact nature is unknown. The closest modern practice to casting lots is likely flipping a coin.
God himself provided a procedure that the Israelites utilized on several times in the book of Numbers (Numbers 26:55; 33:54; 34:13; 36:2). God allowed the Israelites to cast lots in order to determine His will for a given situation (Joshua 18:6-10; 1 Chronicles 24:5,31). Various offices and functions in the temple were also determined by lot (1 Chronicles 24:5, 31; 25:8-9; 26:13-14). All approved by God.
It is interesting to note that all the references to casing lots in the Bible was done BEFORE the Holy Spirit decided. After Pentecost, there is no more references to casting lots. Which leads us to the question, if we HAVE the Holy Spirit and God's Word, why do we need to cast lots?
The Didache, 1st Clement, and the Gospel of Thomas, 1st century writings, does not even mention the use of casting Lots in the early church. The Epistle of Barnabas only mentions it once in retelling of the crucifixion. The more "out there" unorthodoxy Shepherd of Hermas writing doesn't even mention casting lots 1st/2nd century.
Peter Martyr Vermigli wrote in 1583 and stated this about the use of casting lots: "it was chosen by lots, which of them should scape. By lots the land of Canaan was diuided among the tribes; by lots the préesthood was appointed; by lots Io∣nas & Ionathas were found out; and by lots Mat∣thias was taken into the apostleship; as we read in the first of the Acts. <...> all kinds of lots may be reduced to thrée sorts. For either we doubt to whom a thing should be adiudged, as in the diuision that is made of féelds and possessions; (these lots are called lots of diuision:) either we doubt what is to be doone; and such be called consulting lots: or else we would faine knowe, what should come to passe; and this is called diuination by lots. But it behooueth verie much to knowe, vpon what principle lots doo depend. For, to saie that they be ordered by fortune; that were a vaine thing: by diuels, that is superstitious: by hea∣uen, and the stars; that is plaine ridiculous: wherefore they are ruled by God. For (as saith Salomon) Lots are put into the bosome,*but they are tempered by the Lord. And Augustine vpon the 30. psalme sheweth, that lots are nothing else but a signifieng of Gods will <...> But we must beware, that we come not to the triall of lots too vnaduisedly. [ 1] For we must first vse other meanes and gifts of God; name∣lie, the spirit, the word, reason, and discretion; and not to deale by lots, except when necessitie shall require. [ 2] Secondlie, we must beware, that nothing be doone rashlie: for we must come vnto lots with great reue∣rence and religion. [ 3] Thirdlie, we must auoid superstition. [ 4] Fourthlie, there must be no fraud nor deceit. [ 5] Fiftlie, about lots we must not vse the gospell, or word of God. But bicause we cannot easilie beware of all these things, Ierom vpon the prophet Ionas, denieth that it is lawfull in anie wise to vse lots. Howbeit, there be some which conster his meaning to be onlie of super∣stitious lots: but he plainelie condemneth all, and saith, that Whatsoeuer is read in the holie scriptures as touching lots, must not be drawne to an example: and yet the opinion of Augu∣stine was otherwise, (as I said before.) And there is no danger why wée should séeme to tempt God; for it is he that ordereth the lots. But thou wilt saie; The Israelites had an oracle and Ephod, therefore what néed had they of lots? In déede they had so; and so had they Samuel for their prophet, who willed them in the name of God to cast lots. "
In 1607, Willet, Andrew whote in his book An Harmony upon the First Book of Samuel – ch. 10, 14th Question: "We finde three kind of lots vsed in Scripture: some for equall diuision, and deciding of controuersies that way: as the land of Canaan was sorted out by lot: some were sortes con∣sultatoriae, lots vsed for consultation, as when Mathias was chosen: some, divinatoriae, diuining lots, when any hid thing is reuealed, as Achan was taken by lot, Iosh. 7. 2. Now some doe vtterly condemne the vse of lots now, as Hierome vpon Ionas: and thinketh that such examples in Scripture were ex∣traordinarie, and not to be followed. 3. But Augustines iudgement is more probable, who thinketh though the ca∣sting of lots ought not to be so vsuall, as before: yet that in some cases lots may be cast: as he putteth this case; that in time of persecution, when it is thought fit, that some mini∣sters should be preserued for future times, and all are alike minded to abide the extreamest hazard, and of the like gifts, then they may be chosen by lots. epist. ad Honorat. 4. But these conditions must be obserued in lots: 1. that all other meanes should first be attempted, and lots not to be vsed but vpon great necessitie, when no other way is left: so Mathias was elected, there beeing such equalitie betweene him and the other, as that the Apostles could make no difference. 2. they must be vsed not rashly, but reuerently, as the Apostles to their lots ioyned praier. 3. superstitious lots must be a∣bandoned: such as were the lots of Numerius Suffetius, whom Cicero speaketh of lib. de Divinat. that he cut a flint in sunder, and out leaped certaine lots. 4. there must be no deceit v∣sed in lots. Mar. These conditions must be obserued in such lots as are vsed in great and waightie affaires: but they ex∣tend not to such kinde of lots, which are ordinarily vsed in some kinde of recreations, where no such waightie ende is purposed. "
The Eastern Orthodox Church still occasionally uses this method of selection. In 1917, Metropolitan Tikhon became Patriarch of Moscow by the drawing of lots. The Coptic Orthodox Church uses drawing lots to choose the Coptic pope, most recently done in November 2012 to choose Pope Tawadros II. German Pietist Christians in the 18th century often followed the New Testament precedent of drawing lots to determine the will of God. They often did so by selecting a random Bible passage. The most extensive use of drawing of lots in the Pietist tradition may have come with Count von Zinzendorf and the Moravian Brethren of Herrnhut, who drew lots for many purposes, including selection of church sites, approval of missionaries, the election of bishops, and many others. Many Amish customarily select ordinary preachers by lot. (Note that the Greek word for "lot" (kleros) serves as the etymological root for English words like "cleric" and "clergy" as well as for "cleromancy".)
This is NOT explicitly articulated in Holy Scripture not to use or even how to use. It does NOT say NOT to do it, but the Bible also does NOT say not to drive over the speed limit either. BECAUSE we were NOT instructed NOT to utilize it, it appears there may be a use for it still.
BUT it is rendered obsolete in general now that the Holy Spirit is here and the cannon of Holy Scripture is complete. These two must be sought above all else, first.
Thus, casing lots for an issue that is already addressed in Holy Scripture could be insulting to God because it is essentially intellectual laziness, faithlessness, and a willful failure to worship God with your mind and study his word, as commanded; to instead cast lots for any quick and easy decision making answer.
BUT if we can't make a determination after faithfully and diligently searching Holy Scripture, and speaking with other Saints of the faith (in person or in their writings), then MAYBE casting lots might be of some use for direction and determination. But, also FASTING is used for determining God's will as well.
My personal order for determining God's will:
Search Holy Scripture
If still highly unclear, move on to #2.
Pray for the Holy Spirit's counsel
If still highly unclear, move on to #3.
Seek the Saint's counsel
Your pastor, a church elder, writings of faithful saints throughout history.
If still highly unclear, move on to #4.
Evaluate and Consider all related Scripture and saint counsel
Depend on The Word of God and his faithful saints with reason and discretion
If still highly unclear, move on to #5.
Fast and Pray for a determined amount of time to remove worldly influences in the decision making and answer seeking.
If still highly unclear after 1-5, then it seems Casting Lots may be of use.
Pray before casting lots
Must be willing to accept the answer, where as a recast due to an undesirable answer is unfaithful, disingenuous, and self-seeking.
Utilize a median depending on the answers sought (flip a coin for 3 answer options, the 3rd is the non-answer answer) that is unbiased (avoid weighted sides, tilted flip, etc.)
Flip a 2 sided coin
Roll a 6 sided dice
Collect various small rocks, each representing an answer, and drop them in a small circle and see which remained in the circle. Keep casting those that remained until only 1 remains; the answer.
Draw from a hat would be a more modern median.
Cast at least 3 times or until it is obvious which answer is most apparent, obvious, and clear.
Recast and rebuke if there is clear personal manipulation, fraud, deception, and bias
DO NOT cast lots hastily or rashly, but with reverence that God of the Universe may actually use them to reveal his will.
DO NOT apply any sort of extra-non-biblical principle or ideas to the casting and answers, avoid all forms of superstition.
Make the determination: An unclear answer is an answer (heads and tails) an astronomical probability is also an answer (heads or tails constantly)
Clearly flipping a coin 50 times, and all 50 times is tails, is astronomically probable answer.
Flipping a coin 20 times and having a split 11 heads, 9 tails, could be rendered unclear, which is also an answer.
Faithfully execute the casted answer.