Hindered By Satan
Unfortunately, most of the world’s population does not see Satan as any sort of threat to their way of life. Or their future. They do not recognise he is the enemy of God, and our enemy as well. He is very active in this world and that is why he is called the “prince of the earth”. Among other names. We are warned to be on guard against Satan and his henchmen. They are always on the lookout for a way to disrupt what God has in mind for His people.
Absolutely no one is exempt from his attempts to disrupt our plans or to influence our thoughts and draw us away from God.
We know that King David was described as a man after God’s own heart, yet he was tempted to do what was wrong in the eyes of God when He sent Joab out into Israel for a census. Joab knew it was wrong to do this, so David must have known also, but as we read in 1Ch 21:1-3, Satan incited or persuaded David to carry out the census.
1Ch 21:1 Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel.
(2) So David said to Joab and the commanders of the troops, “Go and count the Israelites from Beersheba to Dan. Then report back to me so that I may know how many there are.”
(3) But Joab replied, “May the LORD multiply his troops a hundred times over. My lord the king, are they not all my lord’s subjects? Why does my lord want to do this? Why should he bring guilt on Israel?”
David calling for a census
In verse one, we can see plainly, Satan was the one responsible for David calling for a census. We see from verse three that this must have been a big deal for God, as the result was the death of seventy thousand men. No doubt Satan was happy, but David learned a lesson from this. David carried out the census from pride, and this is of great offence to God.
It is interesting to note, Joab was totally against this census being carried out and spoke against his King. He was aware it was a sin against God to do this, but King David insisted. David must have known it was wrong, the same as Joab did. But Satan convinced him to go ahead with the census anyway.
1Ch 21:13 David said to Gad, “I am in deep distress. Let me fall into the hands of the LORD, for his mercy is very great; but do not let me fall into human hands.”
(14) So the LORD sent a plague on Israel, and seventy thousand men of Israel fell dead.
If there is one thing that we can learn from this. It is that if Satan can incite David, then how much more can we expect to be incited as well? David was called by God as a man after His own heart. Yet he still came under the influence of Satan.
Pride is the greatest sin
When David ordered the census, he was acting out of pride. And pride is one of the greatest sins anyone can commit before God. It was pride that caused the downfall of Satan, as we can see in Isaiah 14:13-14.
Isa 14:13 You said in your heart, “I will ascend into heaven! I will exalt my throne above the stars of God! I will sit on the mountain of assembly, in the far north!
(14) I will ascend above the heights of the clouds! I will make myself like the Most High!”
All of God’s elect, no matter how good they may be, can never be safe from Satan’s influence. Indeed, the more a person wants to live according to God’s ways. The more he can expect Satan to be lurking in the shadows, waiting for his chance to cause corruption.
So, put your faith in Jesus Christ, who is “forever”. Resist Satan, who is temporary.
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