The first verse from today’s chapter: “Satan rose up against Israel and caused David to take a census of the people of Israel.” 1 Chronicles 21:1
The first verse from yesterday chapter: “Once again the anger of the Lord burned against Israel, and he caused David to harm them by taking a census. ‘Go and count the people of Israel and Judah,’ the Lord told him.” (2 Samuel 24:1)
Seeing that we are going through the Bible chronologically, we are essentially reading the same story, but from different books, back to back.
So was it the Lord or Satan that caused David to take the census? Does the Scripture contradict itself? Some might think so, but I do not.
James 1:13-14 says, “When tempted, no one should say, ‘God is tempting me.’ For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed.”
When we are tempted by an evil desire, it is done with permission. God’s permission. So, if Satan provoked David to take the census, then God allowed that to happen, and what God allows, He may also be said to have done.
It is comforting to know that God is in control. He is in control when things are going well, and He is in control when it feels like life is off its track. He permits. He allows. But just as the angel of death was about to destroy Jerusalem, the Lord commanded the angel saying, “Stop! That is enough!” and God ended the plague.
God is in control of the little things, as well as our larger concerns like COVID-19. May we find comfort in our times of difficulty with that truth.
Lock Your Wings 
This stood out for me: “But Joab replied, “May the Lord increase the number of his people a hundred times over! But why, my lord the king, do you want to do this? Are they not all your servants? Why must you cause Israel to sin?””
1 Chronicles 21:3 NLT
When we surround ourselves with good friends they will speak the truth in love. Joab tried to convince David that what he was doing was wrong but David refused to listen. Sometimes the truth is hard to hear but when those who have our best interest at heart, we should listen to what they are saying.
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