The Warning

1 Chronicles 21:1

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

Let us be honest, Satan always has a plan to rise up against all of God’s people.  If you think he is just OK with letting us live our lives, well, you are mistaken.  Oftentimes he incites us to do things that are selfish in nature and only pleasing to our own selfish desires.   His plan is to focus our eyes on ourselves and turn away from looking at God. 

After David goes ahead and orders Joab to take a census, Joab pleads with David not to do it. However, David goes ahead and does it. He falls into the trap that Satan prepared for him. David pays dearly for this mistake.

I often talk about asking the Lord for direction and seeking Godly direction. The Bible says the Holy Spirit guides us into perfect peace. Sometimes, when we are about to do something dumb, God sends a little messenger to warn us and redirect our thoughts away from the dumb thing we are about to do.

Here this messenger was Joab.  Joab pleads with David not to do the census but David ignores him. 

Be on the lookout for those messengers like Joab. Remember, the Holy Spirit is talking to you but the Lord is not limited to your brain, He can also use those around us.