{"id":44374,"date":"2021-10-25T20:43:05","date_gmt":"2021-10-25T17:43:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/?p=44374"},"modified":"2025-05-06T14:49:32","modified_gmt":"2025-05-06T11:49:32","slug":"who-made-david-count-the-israelites-god-or-satan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/en\/2021\/10\/25\/who-made-david-count-the-israelites-god-or-satan\/","title":{"rendered":"Who Made David Count the Israelites\u2014God or Satan?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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In the Old Testament, we come across two seemingly conflicting accounts about who influenced King David to take a census of Israel. One passage says it was <\/span>God<\/strong>, and the other says it was <\/span>Satan<\/strong>. Let\u2019s explore both, and understand how they fit together theologically.<\/span><\/p>\n

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What Do the Scriptures Say?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

2 Samuel 24:1 (NKJV):<\/strong><\/p>\n

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\u201cAgain the anger of the Lord was aroused against Israel, and He moved David against them to say, \u2018Go, number Israel and Judah.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

1 Chronicles 21:1 (NKJV):<\/strong><\/p>\n

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\u201cNow Satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to number Israel.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

At first glance, these two verses seem to contradict each other\u2014one says God<\/strong> incited David, the other says Satan<\/strong> did. So who was really responsible?<\/p>\n

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Understanding the Apparent Contradiction<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The answer lies in understanding how God\u2019s sovereignty and human agency work together<\/strong>, and how Satan can be used as an instrument of God\u2019s judgment<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s first consider that:<\/p>\n