Influencers Weekly Devotional

Go With ME

Embracing our Sacred Responsibility with Christ

Where Is My Security Found

“Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel.” 1 Chronicles 21:1

“This command was also evil in the sight of God; so he punished Israel. Then David said to God, "I have sinned greatly by doing this. Now, I beg you, take away the guilt of your servant. I have done a very foolish thing." 1 Chronicles 21:7-8 It is interesting to me why the taking of a census of the number of fighting men ready for battle was a temptation given to David by Satan. There is no question why Satan rose up against Israel and David. These were God’s people, and David was God’s anointed king for leading His people. We know God’s enemy will always rise up against God’s family, then, as well as now. There is also no doubt that God was displeased with David, in yielding to this temptation. We see His displeasure in verse 7. Finally, we see there is no doubt David realized his guilt. We see his repentance in verse 8. So, in these 3 verses, we see the whole cycle of temptation, sin, and repentance. But there is still the question as to why this ploy by the enemy caused this sin? What was it about a simple census that caused this? Can this also happen to God’s man today, without him realizing the trap being laid for him? Let’s explore it. Our nation has recently gone though a census. The purpose was to number the people in households, for reasons likely more invasive to our privacy than we realize. In taking a census, bureaucrats seek information about men, women, children, ethnic groups, property ownership and such, to allow them to make plans for the future of our nation. It makes them feel secure to know these things. It makes them feel intellectually-enlightened, so their plans can be intellectually-designed, intellectually-measured, and if needed, be intellectually-adjusted to achieve the goals they intellectually determined would be best for us. Is this a sin? I doubt it, although much of their work is misdirected. But why was it a sin for David? To answer this, we will need to travel back about 20 – 30 years in David’s life to the Valley of Elah where Goliath waited below. Saul was King at the time. His fighting men had the same heart as their king when they looked at the giant bully in the valley below. They were “reluctant.” You see, these men, including Saul, had metaphorically taken a “census” of the situation, and they had intellectually determined it was not in their best interest to respond to the giant’s taunts. They did simple physics. He was 9 feet tall, at least 3 feet taller than any of them. He had a spear big enough to carry a bronze tip that weighed about 15 - 20 pounds. He had a coat of armor about 200 pounds or more. He was an awesome sight. Anybody in their right mind wouldn't face this guy, and for this reason, they cowered far away from Goliath. Their census of the situation fed them the facts, and they responded appropriately, based on this census. Then a young shepherd boy came on the scene. You know how the story ended, as Goliath's head rolled that day. But what needs to be observed is how David processed the massive man who had everyone scared and what he had to do to face this giant. Obviously, he didn't take a census, or else he would have joined the other men in their point of view. If he looked through the eyes of fear as they were doing, he would see the same impossible situation they did. David did something else. He didn't count on his strength, nor the strength of any man, to face this giant. He counted on God's strength and God's help. He knew that the superior odds against him required more power than he, as a man, could muster. The young shepherd boy had something the other men didn't have. He had real faith, and he was willing to put his life on the line by facing the giant. He abandoned his life and the situation to God, and he trusted Him absolutely. As a result, God was pleased with David's faith and courage. It became the beginning of David's "coming out party" as the Israelites saw the young man, who would one day be their king, take down the mighty man they feared., Back to the future: It was when David was at the end of his reign as king, in his older years, that He began to think like other census takers by finding comfort in intellectual odds. He wanted the assurance of numbers, and he didn’t want to be required to trust God with the unknown. Like other auditors who consider only hard facts, David wanted to know if his kingdom might be vulnerable at some point, and if so, he wanted to shore it up. Some would say this was good "due diligence and sound thinking." God saw it as appalling. In my Mississippi upbringing, we had a phrase for it. "David left the one who brung him to the dance." This describes how I think God saw it. David left his faith in God and, instead, put his security in the strength and intellect of sound thinking. God never approves of this, and David regretted it. "But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him." Hebrews 10:38 (NIV) How do we, as God's men, do our own census taking, and based on the assessment, do fear-based planning and make fear-based decisions? It is easy to do, for it is the way of mankind to follow this way of thinking. It is the exception to see though the eyes of faith, as the young shepherd boy did. There have been many times where friends and family of mine have not understood my plans and my trust in God. They thought I was committing intellectual suicide, for based on their assessment of my challenge, my course did not make sense. I could not help these people see with my eyes of faith, for they were census takers. They didn't get it, and they also missed the blessing. I have never regretted a faith-based decision I have ever made. On the other hand, there have been many calculated decisions I regret. Influencers was founded by godly men, who also happened to be successful businessmen. Early on, we discovered how easily we gravitated to being businessmen when making decisions concerning the ministry. We were attempting to make sound decisions based on experience in marketing, availability of resources, and other criteria that we used in business, as we carried out our leadership duties. Before it got out of hand, God reeled us in and made it clear that this ministry would not be led by census takers. He made it clear that He would anoint our efforts born from faith. But He would not join us if we didn't want His leadership and were not willing to lead by faith. It was at this point we understood the absolute essential importance that this DNA must never change if we were to remain who we are as a ministry and if we hoped to be under God's anointing. It is the same with all God's men. He wants us to become giant slayers and live by faith in Him. Sure, many people will not understand this. Be prepared to be misunderstood. But also be prepared to see things you would have never imagined, as God joins you in your lonely valley to face those impossible odds from which most people will run. This process will build a man in whom God delights. So take a step in your Valley of Elah, and face your giant with the strength God will provide a man of faith. Become the giant slayer God is inviting you to become, the one you long to be. We need more men like this showing the way. Standing strong in His might, Rocky TO DOWNLOAD A COPY OF THIS DEVOTIONAL, CLICK HERE