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This account of a census is a puzzling chapter. We wonder today, what could be wrong with taking a census? It seems pretty harmless to us. In the ancient world, a man had a right to count and number what belonged to him. However, Israel did not belong to David, it belonged to God. David was infringing on God’s territory with information that wasn’t necessary to know, and in doing so, was ultimately sending a message of pride. There is some controversy over whether it was God who allowed this bad decision or Satan who tempted David as found in 1 Chronicles 21.
“Satan wanted to bring trouble on the people of Israel, so he made David decide to take a census. 2 David gave orders to Joab and the other officers, “Go through Israel, from one end of the country to the other, and count the people. I want to know how many there are.””
1 Chronicles 21:1-2 GNB
I think as we study Scripture, we find clear evidence that when Satan tempts, he must go through the authority of God to do so. We see this both with the painful infliction dealt to Job and within the “sifting” of Peter. So, I would say it was a both/and situation. Regardless, David made the decision, and it was done.
“David was animated by a spirit of pride and vainglory. He was eager to make a fine showing among the surrounding nations, and to impress them with such a conception of Israel’s greatness that they would not dare to attack any point of the long frontier line. He yielded to the temptation of trusting in chariots and horses, instead of in the victories of faith.”
F.B. Meyer
It is very interesting to me, because we see the same thing today, especially in ministry. We trust the numbers. We want data and proof. Just give us the percentages, so we can make an informed decision. If your ministry isn’t reaching _____ number of people, your ministry is failing. I’m not saying numbers, data, proof, and percentages don’t matter, but they don’t matter more than trusting God. They are also not a sure way of determining of spiritual growth or heart change.
Exposing motives is Holy Spirit territory. “Your ministry.” “Your numbers.” For David, it had become his instead of God’s.
Of course, had God been the one to declare a census be taken, it would have been a different story entirely. The sin wasn’t in the census, but rather, the heart of pride that sought approval from numbers alone. As we look through Israel’s history, we can see that numbers mattered very little. In fact, God often used smaller armies, weakened people, and humble beginnings to illustrate that true victory is only found in His strength.
Do you trust the numbers more than God? Is your faith and satisfaction more rooted in looking good before men or before God?