The Sin of Numbering Israel
November 9, 2008
Dr. Russell K. Tardo
The text is found in 1 Chronicles, chapter 21, an Old Testament text with a New Testament application. This is the account of King David’s numbering of Israel. While this event occurred several thousand years ago in the reign of King David, I believe that ample correlation to the twenty-first century can be found.
1And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel. 2And David said to Joab (the commander of his army) and to the rulers of the people, Go, number Israel from Beersheba even to Dan; and bring the number of them to me, that I may know it. 3And Joab answered, The LORD make his people an hundred times so many more as they be: but, my lord the king, are they not all my lord’s servants? why then doth my lord require this thing? why will he be a cause of trespass to Israel? (Joab knew this was wrong and he tried to discourage David from going through with his plan.) 4Nevertheless the king’s word prevailed against Joab. Wherefore Joab departed, and went throughout all Israel, and came to Jerusalem. 5And Joab gave the sum of the number of the people unto David. And all they of Israel were a thousand thousand and an hundred thousand men that drew sword: and Judah was four hundred threescore and ten thousand men that drew sword. 6But Levi and Benjamin counted he not among them: for the king’s word was abominable to Joab. 7And God was displeased with this thing; therefore he smote Israel. 8And David said unto God, I have sinned greatly, because I have done this thing: but now, I beseech thee, do away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly. 9And the LORD spake unto Gad, David’s seer, saying, 10Go and tell David, saying, Thus saith the LORD, I offer thee three things: choose thee one of them, that I may do it unto thee. 11So Gad came to David, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Choose thee (David gets a unique opportunity to choose his own chastisement) 12Either three years’ famine; or three months to be destroyed before thy foes, while that the sword of thine enemies overtaketh thee; or else three days the sword of the LORD, even the pestilence, in the land, and the angel of the LORD destroying throughout all the coasts of Israel. Now therefore advise thyself what word I shall bring again to him that sent me. 13And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let me fall now into the hand of the LORD; for very great are his mercies: but let me not fall into the hand of man. (David told Gad that he would prefer to fall into the hands of God, but not into the hands of his enemies. In the hands of God there is mercy.) 14So the LORD sent pestilence upon Israel: and there fell of Israel seventy thousand men. 15And God sent an angel unto Jerusalem to destroy it: and as he was destroying, the LORD beheld, and he repented (turned Himself) him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed, It is enough, stay now thine hand. And the angel of the LORD stood by the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. [1 Chron. 21:1-15]
David was later instructed to set up an altar on the site of that threshing floor. (A threshing floor was always located on a hillside where there was an active wind. The winnowing process called for throwing the grain into the air so that the chaff was blown away by the wind while the heavier grain fell to the ground.) God instructed David, through Gad the seer, to erect an altar on the site of the threshing floor and offer sacrifice. When David followed God’s instructions, God sent fire from heaven and consumed the sacrifice. It was at that same location that Abraham built the altar on which to sacrifice his son, Isaac. Later, Solomon built the great temple on that very site.
- TWO PIVOTAL QUESTIONS -
First, Why did David choose to number Israel? Secondly, Why was it such a grievous sin?
We know that God regarded it to be a sin of such serious nature that He sent pestilence and destroyed 70,000 people. Not only does the Biblical text state that it was sin, but it also says that Satan provoked David. Whenever the devil comes and whispers something in your ear, you can be assured that it’s a bad idea. Anytime the devil offers suggestions or advice, you’d be wise to resist him. Whenever the devil shows up, it’s certainly not the time when good things are going to happen.
It was the devil who showed up in Job’s life and following his intrusion, Job experienced nothing but trials and troubles. The devil showed up in the wilderness to tempt the Lord Jesus Himself. Jesus sent him packing by speaking the Word of God, refuting everything the devil had to say. Sometimes the devil makes suggestions and the foolish pick up and run with them. Some of his suggestions are found to be attractive and even enticing. He tells the young people, "Smoke it! Everyone else is. Why should you be different?" or "Try that crack -- it’s not addictive!" or "Try that alcohol. Others might turn into alcoholics, but not you -- you can handle it!" or "Keep putting your money into that one-armed bandit -- you’re sure to win this next pull." All are foolish, unwise and even perilous choices. (Gambling is one of the worst in that no one ever wins except the house, i.e., the casinos. There’s no limit on what the casinos allow you to lose, but if you happen to be winning, they do have a limit that they rigidly enforce.)
The devil provoked David into numbering Israel. What was the sin involved here? Satan’s target (verse 1) was Israel. He wanted to inflict harm on Israel. The devil has always hated Israel and continues to do so to this very day. Let’s note that Israel was the devil’s target, but King David was his means to gain what he wanted. What the devil wanted was to do harm, to do injury to the nation of Israel.
- What can we learn here? -
In his attack against Israel, Satan desired to use David. David was no spiritual weakling; he was no spiritual novice. At this point in David’s life (chapter 22), he was in the process of accumulating materials that his successor could use in building the temple. This event occurred near the end of David’s life, the close of his reign. King David is someone who should have some spiritual insight and wisdom at this stage of life. David was a powerful man, a mighty man and a man after God’s own heart. David was the kind of man that the devil chose to use to attack Israel. We would be wise to remember that the devil still uses those tactics today.
- The Devil wants to Use YOU to do His Work -
What’s the lesson here? The devil wants to use you to do harm not only to yourself, but also to do harm to others. Don’t think that the devil is wily and shrewd enough to use only the spiritually foolish. If the devil could get to David, then he can get to any one of us if we’re not alert and on guard. The devil wants to use your mouth to do his work. If he is unsuccessful in hindering or obstructing someone, perhaps he can entice you into aiding him in performing his acts of discouragement, despair and sorrow. All that Satan has to do is whisper derogatory remarks about someone and beguile you into repeating it. The devil is quick to use your tongue and your actions to bring injury to others. The lesson for us is that we remain sober and vigilant.
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour. [1 Pe. 5:8]
Unfortunately, the devil will use Christians to devour others, including fellow believers. Saints, he will use us if we’re not wise and always alert to his tactics. Not only does the devil want to tempt you to sin, but he also wants to use you as his instrument in bringing harm to others. If he can use your anger or your big mouth, he won’t hesitate to do so. He will use you to come against your family, your fellow church members or co-workers. The devil can use you to do real injury to those who love you. He used David to bring injury and death to 70,000 so don’t think you are exempt from his strategies and his plans. As believers we must be wise, not allowing the devil to use our tongues to spread bitterness, resentment, conflict, offense or animosity. Don’t let him do it!
Why was numbering Israel a sin? Why was it considered to be a sin of such critical consequence that it brought judgment upon the entire nation? Joab knew it was wrong and David later admitted that he had sinned (verse 8). The words in the Hebrew indicate that David realized he had sinned mightily. What is the sin? Scholars through the centuries have made several suggestions.
1And the LORD spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tabernacle of the congregation, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they were come out of the land of Egypt, saying, 2Take ye the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel, after their families by the house of their fathers, with the number of their names, every male by their polls; 3From twenty years old and upward, all that are able to go forth to war in Israel: thou and Aaron shall number them by their armies. [Numb. 1:1-3]
God actually ordered Moses to take a census of their men. A census was to be taken with all males over the age of twenty counted for military purposes. That numbering occurred the second year after the Israelites left Egypt at the outset of their forty years of wilderness wanderings. Formation of an army was vital. Vast numbers of people were about to enter hostile territory and organization within the ranks was necessary. God actually ordered the census in that place.
Some scholars suggest that David’s census was ordered so that he could levy a tax against the people. In having an accurate count of the populace, David could determine the amount of money that would be coming into the treasury of the kingdom. His plan or goal was to build the great temple at Jerusalem. God had forbidden David to build the temple during his lifetime. David, during his military exploits, had been a warrior and the cause of much bloodshed. Nevertheless, David designed the temple, laid out its plans and accumulated the materials needed for building the temple structure. The finest quality stone and precious woods were brought from Lebanon and other areas. A review of 1 Chronicles, chapter 22, reveals that David accumulated gold and precious stones for decorating the temple interior and the furnishings. David accumulated all this material so that when he died and his son became king that Solomon would have all that was needed in order to build the temple for the Lord. To acquire all the supplies cost David a fortune in materials and trade goods. Scholars have suggested that the census was an attempt on David’s part to impose an additional tax on the people. Joab recognized what the numbering was about and knew it would be very unpopular with the people.
The problem with that view is that this incident does not concern the temple. Even if the temple was David’s motive for numbering the people, that would not be a sin of such magnitude as to bring such grievous judgment upon the nation.
Another view according to Exodus, chapter 30:
11And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 12When thou takest the sum of the children of Israel after their number, then shall they give every man a ransom for his soul unto the LORD, when thou numberest them; that there be no plague among them, when thou numberest them. [Ex. 30:11-12]
In this passage, Moses is actually given the command to number Israel. The command is given with the qualification that every man present ransom for his soul. To fail to do so could cause plague to break out among them. In the 1 Chronicles reading, a plague did break out. Scholars say the reason is that the census was taken, but the ransom wasn’t given. The ransom amounted to one-half shekel for every male and the people failed to bestow the ransom. The problem with this view was that the ransom was always associated with the Day of Atonement. On the Jewish Day of Atonement not only was sacrifice made for the nation, but every male was also to bring ransom for his soul. This was part of the sacrifice, part of the offering on the Day of Atonement. This applied to every male over the age of twenty years. It was the same amount for the rich man and the poor man -- one-half shekel was due from each man. The purpose was to show there was complete equality of men in the sight of God. Could this have been the census that required the half-shekel offering and it was not given? Is that the cause of the plague spreading? The problem? David’s census was not taken at the time of the observance of the Day of Atonement.
This census, according to 1 Chronicles, chapter 21, was a military census (verse 5). Joab gave to David the sum of the number of men who "drew sword." This was a counting of the military men of Israel. This wasn’t a counting for the Day of Atonement but a counting of Israel’s military might. This census was solely concerned with the size of Israel’s army. It’s clear this was the purpose of David’s census and it’s also plain that it was provoked by Satan (verse 1). Also obvious is the fact that God abhorred the taking of this census (verse 7). Because God was displeased with the taking of the census, God smote Israel. David acknowledged that it was a great sin because he was the one who desired it (verse 2). David wanted to know the number of fighting men in Israel. Perhaps the knowing gave him some sort of satisfaction or gratification.
- THE KEY TO THE MYSTERY OF THE RIDDLE -
The key to understanding this: It was the temptation to be proud, to be inflated, to gloat or glory over the number of Israel’s fighting force, their past accomplishments and their spoils from past battles. The sin was also the temptation to feel confident, safe and secure in the army’s military strength. It was the temptation on David’s part to place confidence in the number and strength of his army. Instead David should have spent time in glorifying God, confident that his strength and trust were to be found only in God.
The devil will tempt us to look at our circumstances. He will tempt us to look at our strength, as was the case with David. Don’t think that the devil won’t also be just as quick to cause us to look at our weakness if that better suits his purposes. Our reasoning draws us to such conclusions as: confidence in bank accounts, health, etc. On the other hand, reasoning draws us to see lack in bank accounts, bad health, etc. and we are quickly cast down and deflated. Either way, the sin is the same because we’re looking at numbers, at circumstances. Either way, we have taken our eyes off God who is to be our absolute source of trust and confidence.
Some trust in chariots, and some in horses (in today’s military, the equivalent is equipment such as tanks and planes, armaments): but we will remember the name of the LORD our God. [Ps. 20:7]
It has always been the way of the heathen nations to measure strength by the numbers of their fighting men, their weapons and armaments. This has been the practice from ancient times to the present day. Most will remember how Russia during the Cold War paraded their military weapons and troops through Red Square. It was an immense show of their military might and strength. Russia was anxious for the world to know their superior military might because they had many armaments, planes, tanks, missiles, etc. Their strength was in their weapons of warfare. Today, China, Iran, Iraq, North Korea and Russia are all involved in such displays of strength. The USA is not above making such displays either. The nation’s strength is measured by the numbers in our armed forces, weapons, etc. The heathen nations have long participated in such displays of strength, comparing themselves to what their neighboring nations have in way of military strength and equipment.
- WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE? -
Israel knew they could not exhibit themselves with shows of strength. The nation of Israel was tiny in comparison to the surrounding nations. They recognized they were a small nation, occupying a sliver of land in an obscure part of the world. They could never hope to compare themselves number-for-number with the pagans. Israel was always going to be outnumbered and they could never count on measuring up to the surrounding nations. They recognized their vulnerability knowing that their continued existence rested on their faith and confidence in their God. Israel couldn’t fall into the entrapment of placing confidence in their numbers because they were a small nation, i.e., small in territory and small in population.
1 We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us, what work thou didst in their days, in the times of old. 2How thou didst drive out the heathen with thy hand, and plantest them; how thou didst afflict the people, and cast them out. [Ps. 44:1-2]
Who cast them out? While Israel’s army participated, the fact is that it was God who cast out the heathen. God gave the land to the people of Israel and it was God who drove the heathen occupants from the land.
For they got not the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them: but thy right hand, and thine army, and the light of thy countenance, because thou hadst a favor unto them. [Ps. 44:3]
Israel was never strong in its own might. Israel’s might was never in its numbers; Israel was always outnumbered. At such times as they began to compare themselves with their pagan neighbors, the people of Israel became terrified. We’re all familiar with the account of the ten spies who went out to scout the land. They returned with the report that the land was occupied by giants. They resigned themselves that there was no way they could overcome the residents of the land. God’s word to Israel was, Don’t look at the numbers, but count on your God! Stand on God’s Word.
4Thou art my King, O God: command deliverances for Jacob. 5Through thee will we push down our enemies: through thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us. 6For I will not trust in my bow, neither shall my sword save me. [Ps. 44:4-5]
It was vital that Israel recognize this because militarily, they did not measure up to their enemies. They never did and what’s more -- they never will. They are not equally measured with their enemies today.
7But thou hast saved us from our enemies, and hast put them to shame that hated us. 8In God we boast all the day long, and praise thy name forever. [Ps. 44:7-8]
As long as Israel’s faith and confidence was in God, they were safe. As long as Israel kept their eyes on God, they were secure. As long as their obedience was unto the Lord, Israel was blessed. If Israel began to look at the numbers, if they foolishly allowed the circumstances to govern their actions, woe unto them.
- Is there a lesson here for us? -
Never judge your strength by appearances. Never judge your weakness by appearances. Our faith, too, must not be in our circumstances, but in our God who saved us, brought us this far and will bring us the remainder of the way. We don’t live by our circumstances and this must be instilled in our hearts and minds. Israel, don’t count your numbers, comparing yourself to the pagan nations! You can’t do that! And Christians, you can’t do that either. We don’t look at others or other nations. We look to God and count on Him! We don’t look at our resources; we trust in God’s resources. We don’t count on our provision and abilities. We look to our God to provide for us. God is our strength, our source, our supply, our healer and our deliverer. We’re safe when we look at our God. We simply can’t look at numbers, no matter where they are -- checkbook or numbers in church. Saints, I have to tell myself that. "Don’t fall into that snare, Rusty. We’re just a handful of people rattling around in an obscure corner in Kenner, Louisiana."
Even America has to be careful for we tend to measure ourselves by our neighbors. We’re a powerful country, probably the most powerful on earth in many ways. Number-for-number, however, China outnumbers this nation over three-to-one. India outnumbers the USA by the same measure. If the Muslim nations are considered, they, too, outnumber this nation three-to-four-to-one. Let’s not look at our numbers thinking that we are safe. If that’s true for America, what about tiny Israel? Consider this; they are surrounded to this day by hostile neighbors. Consider their ancient enemies in their immediate surroundings. There’s Egypt with a population of 80 million; Iran has a population of 65 million; Iraq has a population of 29 million; Saudi Arabia has a population of 25 million; Syria has 20 million; Libya and Jordan each have populations of six million; Lebanon has a population of four million; and the Palestinian territories also have four million people. The nation of Turkey is not even counted here although it is officially part of the Middle East and 99.8 percent Muslim. Consider just those ancient enemies -- 239 million people. Israel has a population of seven million.
- FOCUS ON GOD, NOT NUMBERS -
David, don’t start counting the numbers! The captain of David’s army, Joab, knew it was a tremendous mistake. If we knew just how great the armies of the enemies are versus how small are our numbers, our faith could trickle away. We must never fall into the snare of numbers. We must always focus on the Lord who is faithful to keep us, deliver us, provide for us and enable us to conquer, no matter what the trial or the adversity. God will enable us. Our strength is not in our size and your strength is not in yourself. Your strength is in Christ your Savior. You are in Him and He is in you and you can do all things through Christ who gives you strength. You might think that you can’t overcome this trial, this adversity. You’re wrong. You’re looking in the wrong place. You’re counting the numbers. You’re looking at your own strength, your own resources. You don’t have it and you can’t afford to look there. Look at the God of the Bible who has promised you and who is faithful to do what He promised.
- IDENTIFYING THE SIN -
The sin in numbering Israel was not the fact that David counted the fighting men. The sin was in why David counted them. It falls back to the ancient sins that have plagued Israel since its inception -- pride, self-glorification and self-exaltation. Israel was long troubled with these sins and King David was not immune. He was not the exception.
This event occurred near the end of David’s life. He had fought and conquered all his adversaries. He had overcome every one of them. He could look back over his life and be proud of what he had done, what he had accomplished. No one ever grows too old to fall victim to the devil’s snare. It’s not only the young who are gullible, but the elderly can also fall prey to deception. Even David the king, wise and mighty in God, was not immune to falling victim to the temptation to be proud over his accomplishments. The devil provoked the sin and God hates it. Just how much God hates the sin of pride often eludes us.
16These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: 17A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, 19A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
[Prov. 6:16-19]
What’s the very first sin that is listed? A proud look.... That’s the sin of pride and is always detestable in the eyes of God. Pride is the sin that brought down Adam and Eve. Pride is the sin that caused Lucifer, the anointed cherub, to become the devil. You and I should ask God to give us insight into just how heinous, how vile and detestable pride is in His eyes. Why is that? Because we are so prone to fall into that sin. It’s something that is so easy for humans to slip into. Our fragile egos are so quickly offended. We’re so ready to jump into the self-defense mode; we’re so ready to feel wounded and rejected. That’s all self and it’s all pride.
Why are we compelled to answer back? Why can’t we just let it go? Pride is the reason; pride that won’t go to the cross, pride that just won’t die. We simply can’t let the other party have the last word. We’re unable to bite our tongues. Crucifixion is something we won’t abide. We just can’t be overcome! Why? It’s our pride, our self, our ego. We can’t let someone walk over us or take advantage of us. Why? It’s our pride! We’re compelled to defend ourselves, assert our rights. Saints, what we have to do is overcome. This is such a subtle thing for we stumble so easily right into the arms of pride. Not only does it contaminate us, but we must also be aware of the depth of God’s hatred of the sin of pride.
7And God was displeased with this thing; therefore he smote Israel. [1 Chron. 21:7]
Joab realized that David was about to commit an act that would be considered sin in God’s eyes. He strongly advised David not to take the count. If anyone knew Israel’s strength, it was Joab. He was the commander-in-chief of the armies of Israel. If anyone knew that it was God that Israel had to rely on when confronting their enemies, it was Joab. He was well aware of the difference in the number of Israel’s fighting men and the number of their enemies fighting forces. Israel was greatly outnumbered; the odds were just not in Israel’s favor. Joab was conscious of that, knowing that the eyes of Israel had to remain not on their numbers, but on their God.
Like so many people, David refused to listen. This is another manifestation of pride -- failing to listen, refusing to listen. The stubborn and headstrong, the self-willed, the unreasonable, those unwilling to listen -- all are examples of pride. Pride is probably the most common sin today. It’s common among people of all ages and all ethnic backgrounds. The youth today are so prideful and full of themselves. Their level of self-confidence has caused them to become so egotistical that they refuse to listen to their elders, their parents or their teachers. They will not listen to those who have more experience and have no regard for what others have to say. Saints, that’s pride pure and simple.
Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. [Prov. 16:18]
Pride, however, is not only a plague to the young, but also to the middle-aged and to the elderly. The elderly can be just as headstrong as and many times even more obstinate than the younger generation. None are immune from being unbending, unyielding and self-willed. Let’s all remember that pride is a sin that all are susceptible to and it’s a sin that God hates in any of its exhibitions.
There’s an interesting passage in the Old Testament book of Amos, chapter 8:
8The Lord GOD hath sworn by himself, saith the LORD the God of hosts, I abhor the excellency of Jacob, and hate his palaces: therefore will I deliver up the city with all that is therein. 9And it shall come to pass, if there remain ten men in one house, that they shall die. 10And a man’s uncle shall take him up, and he that burneth him, to bring out the bones out of the house, and shall say unto him that is by the sides of the house, Is there yet any with thee? and he shall say, No. Then shall he say, Hold thy tongue: for we may not make mention of the name of the LORD. 11For, behold, the LORD commandeth, and he will smite the great house with breaches, and the little house with clefts. 12Shall horses run upon the rock? will one plow there with oxen? for ye have turned judgment into gall, and the fruit of righteousness into hemlock: 13Ye which rejoice in a thing of nought, which say, Have we not taken to us horns by our own strength? 14But, behold, I will raise up against you a nation, O house of Israel, saith the LORD the God of hosts; and they shall afflict you from the entering in of Hemath unto the river of the wilderness. [Amos 6:8-14]
God hates pride and makes no exceptions for anyone. During recent political campaigns, we repeatedly heard "I, I, I." What great national changes and improvements the individual(s) running for office vowed to make! Everything focused on the abilities, education, experience, etc. of candidates. This nation’s political candidates displayed egos that defy description. Their promotion of themselves and their accomplishments was shameless. We heard boasting as to how this one or that one proposed to heal the land, bring prosperity and fix the economy. Then as if that was not enough, they boasted they would "fix Iraq," lower everyone’s taxes and increase everyone’s benefits. Over and over, the populace was encouraged to "Look at me! I’m the one." God has a word for that -- PRIDE! God has said in His Word that He hates pride (Amos 6:8 above). He hated Israel’s pride and He hates pride today in any manifestation.
This kind of stench of pathetic human pride stretches all the way to heaven. What’s even worse is when that kind of pride is found in the church of the Lord Jesus Christ and among the people of God. Saints, the words of Amos should ring in our ears when God says through Amos, I hate Jacob’s pride. Remember who that is -- Jacob, representative of the people of God.
Unfortunately, the sin of pride is commonly found among the people of God; no one is immune to pride. It strikes the young, the middle-aged and the old. Just think how offensive it is to God to see one of His own strut about, preen and shamelessly exalt himself. All are vulnerable, subject to the temptation to congratulate ourselves and promote ourselves. When we allow ourselves to become proud of our denomination or lack of denomination, our building(s), our size, our offerings, etc., God is repulsed by our sin. Very few things are as offensive in the sight of God as pride when it parades in the sanctuary of God -- in the pew or in the pulpit.
Pastors have to be particularly careful not to become caught in the trap of pride. It’s easy to become inflated with pride when there are large congregations, great success and sizable offerings. A pastor can find himself if not saying, at least thinking, "Just look what I’ve done, what I’ve accomplished." Large or high numbers can cause a pastor to really feel good about himself and his abilities.
Then there are those who fall into the opposite snare of lamenting that nothing has been accomplished, that life’s a dismal failure, etc. All they have to show for years of labor in the harvest fields, years of preaching and prophesying is a handful of converts. Such a one feels the sting of failure.
It’s an entrapment! One man is a success while another is a failure. Why? Because they looked at the numbers instead of looking at the Lord. Always look at God and be faithful to what He’s called you to do. The numbers don’t matter! God is just as present in a church of twenty as He is in a church of 10 or 20,000. In fact, God is as much present in a group of three as He is in 300,000.
For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. [Matt. 18:20]
Don’t start measuring your success by the number of people in the pew. That’s a big snare -- a great problem! The sin is the same whether or not the numbers are small or great. In either case it shows lack of faith and the same is true for every individual. Looking at your numbers, your circumstances, your situation and becoming deflated, dejected or cast down is not the answer. Don’t start thinking, "Others are so prosperous, so successful and doing so well. Their children are all serving the Lord. Just look at me! Things have gone wrong and downhill from there. Just when I thought things couldn’t get worse, they did!" Once again, saints, don’t put your faith in your circumstances.
Isn’t it amazing how far we’ve wandered from the humble, lowly example of the Son of God? While we promote ourselves, Jesus humbled Himself. We’re so self-aggrandizing, congratulating ourselves, basking in our accolades and if no one else praises us, we praise ourselves. I use great liberty in quoting the old saying, "He that tooteth not his own horn, his horn doth not get tooted." Saints, we are proud and we are nothing. Jesus was humble and He was everything. We had best be careful for the Lord has a way of deflating those who begin to think too highly of themselves.
- Important to Remember ! -
There are two important points that should be emphasized, namely:
1. A man’s sins affect others.
David sinned and 70,000 people died. Why? It was David that sinned so why would his sin cause the death of so many others? Somehow that doesn’t seem equitable or just. Even David acknowledged that it was his sin and he questioned why the Lord would punish the people.
And David spake unto the LORD when he saw the angel that smote the people, and said, Lo, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly: but these sheep, what have they done? let thine hand, I pray thee, be against me, and against my father’s house. [2 Sam. 24:17]
In response, God relented and stopped the plague, but 70,000 had already died. Does that seem unfair? Saints, our sins affect others. When there is an evil ruler or king in power, each individual subject in that nation is affected. Where there is a wicked parent, all family members are affected. One person’s sin affects others. A doctor who is intoxicated while treating his patients brings problems to those patients. By the same token, a drunk driver’s sin affects those whom he crashes into. The innocent suffer for the sins of the guilty and that’s just the way it is in a fallen, broken world.
2. God was angry with Israel.
The scripture passage today was from 1 Corinthians, chapter 21. There is a parallel passage in the Old Testament book of 2 Samuel, chapter 24 that offers more insight.
And again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah. [2 Sam. 24:1]
God was angry with Israel because they had sinned repeatedly. The nature of the sin is not mentioned, but it is known that Israel’s prevailing sins were idolatry, rebellion, defiance and pride. The people had rebelled not only against God, but also against David. Consequently, God was angry with Israel and chose to judge the people for their sin and wickedness.
Through this background information, a new perspective is detected. God was going to punish Israel using David’s sin as the grounds or justification. God permitted the devil to tempt David and then used David’s sin as the basis for inflicting judgment on Israel. Did David sin? The answer is, YES. Did David choose to sin? Again, the answer is YES. God is so great and so powerful that He can even take a man’s sin and use it to accomplish His purposes. In this case, God’s purpose was judgment.
It is my fervent prayer that we will learn and profit from this teaching on the numbering of Israel. It is vital that we see that our faith and confidence must be in God at all times and never in ourselves or the circumstances. Don’t ever be dejected or despair in thinking, "I’m not big enough, smart enough, wise enough, skilled enough, etc." Never think that you lack ability, that you’re a nothing, a nobody. When you allow yourself to lapse into that pattern of thinking, you’re looking in the wrong direction and at the wrong thing(s). At such times, you are looking at the numbers and you should be looking at the promises of God.
But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. [Phil. 4:19]
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
[Matt. 6:33]
Saints, all the things for which the world seeks God promises that He will give to you. Keep your eyes on Him and keep Him first in your life. When you keep your eyes fixed on the promise(s), He will always bring you through -- always and forever. Amen.
- CLOSING PRAYER –
Father, we do pray that you would encourage us, that you would encourage each one through your Word and by your Spirit today. Let the word take root in our hearts and cause us to look only to you, solely to you as our source and supply for all things. Lord, we pray for those who have been struggling financially, economically, physically and emotionally. Lord, we do look to you and not to ourselves, not to our strength or resources but to You to bless, heal, deliver and provide. And for your faithfulness, Lord, we give you thanks. In Jesus’ Name .... Amen.
