Ever wonder how God gets the attention of His children? I believe today’s study will blow your mind on how God used David to get his attention and that of his countrymen. I often reflect back on life and see how God used situations in my life for His glory. Can you imagine how we will stand in awe on Resurrection morning as we see the work of Christ over the years revealed to us? Hopefully we will be reminded today that our God is in total control of us, and our planet. He made it all, He directs it, and He is in full controls of it!

DATE POSTED Friday, 2022-09-16
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

BY: Ed Algreen 

SCRIPTURE FROM: 2 Samuel 24:1-3
TRANSLATION: GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

BIBLE TEXT: 1 The Lord became angry with Israel again, so he provoked David to turn against Israel. He said, “Go, count Israel and Judah.”
2 King David said to Joab, the commander of the army who was with him, “Go throughout the tribes of Israel from Dan to Beersheba and count the people. That way I will know how many there are.”
3 Joab responded to the king, “May the Lord your God multiply the people a hundred times over, and may Your Majesty ⌞live⌟ to see it. But why does Your Majesty wish to do this?”

APPLICATION: In the last few years my eyes of understanding have been enlightened to imagine how hurricanes, or weather systems are steered. We hear the meteorologists talk about the direction a hurricane is traveling and when it is expected to arrive at certain points. It sounds almost like the system has engines and a rudder to make it move forward and steer it in the path we see on our weather apps! But I was enlightened by God to see these systems as a floating ball of cotton that will move only when forced by the surrounding winds. Through computers and a long history of weather patterns, meteorologists are aided in predicting the speed and direction in which a hurricane should travel. So, in seeing the hand of God at work in weather systems, don’t you sometime wonder how God must direct our path each day? We know He does, because many of you have done like me and surrendered our will over to Him for His leading and His ministry through us. In today’s Scripture it looks like God may have led David into a path intended to harm his nation. But let me draw your attention to another Scripture that speaks to this story. In 1 Chronicles 21 you will see where this whole idea of taking a census actually came from Satan. Notice that our Scripture says that ‘he’ (lowercase ‘h’ – meaning Satan) provoked David…. God saw David once again take his eyes off Him, and the promise He made to David about giving him a nation of people – more than the number of stars he could see at night! God also saw how David allowed his past personal achievements to impact him in his future successes. David evaluated the number of military men available to him, rather than the unlimited awesome power of Almighty God. But isn’t that so much like our story today? As long as we feel like we could personally handle something, we eliminate the need for God, and pursue our battles alone. Friends, God became very angry with David and gave him three choices for his punishment, each of which were drastic in nature. God may still steer us into making choices for our punishment, but can you imagine the feeling of irresponsibility in making our Creator, God Almighty, upset or mad with us? Isn’t it horrible that we do that almost every day of our lives when, as children of God, we know His commands, understand His will for us, and yet we still do our own thing anyway? Friend of God, it is so very clear from the Bible that God loves us more than we could comprehend. Under conviction, we are humbled by the love of the God of this universe who, in spite of our sin, yet He sent His own Son to facilitate our eternity in Heaven with Him. Please consider surrendering your evil mind that invites Satan to have his way in your life, and instead allow the love of God to indwell, mold and lead you into His will and way, God being your helper.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: That we might be fully dedicated and sold out to the lordship of Jesus Christ. Satan is constantly on the prowl for whomever he might devour and/or mislead. Only the power of God can fight the forces of evil that strives to pull us down!

PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, the Father saw the challenge we were having to overcome sin, so He sent You to save those willing to surrender their all to You. We are forever grateful for your mercy and Your love towards us, and we sincerely pray that You will direct us towards being awesome representatives of Yours before a lost and dying world. Thank You Lord for your Holy Word and for using it to steer our walk in this life, for Your kingdom’s sake. Sheild us from the evil one and lead us into the path You would have us take each day. AMEN!