I was reading my bible when i come across the verse on 1 Chronicles 21:1:
"And Satan stood up against Israel and provoked David to number Israel."
I have read this verse couple of times, but this time, somehow i remembered that there was a similar verse that i read some times ago (i read my bible chronogically), and the verse was in
2 Samuel 24:1"
"And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go number Israel and Judah."
So who was the one that tempt David to number the Israelites?
I do some search on google and the result was quite similar to what i was thinking before... It says that God allows Satan to do His bidding, to prove His point to David and all in the while proves that He is a sovereign God.
This is a really hard food for me to digest.
I seriously think that by doing this, God actually free to do everything as He pleases. David may in the end learn his lesson. But it was not happen before thousands of Israelites were smitten by God's plague. As David said, "I have sinned, but what about these sheeps?"
For one purpose of teaching David, God saw fit to sacrifice thousands of lives? How could it be?
Lately, my only pray is that God will reveal Himself to me... Cause truly with this kind of mindset, and with this limited revelation, i seriously considering about the value of my faith.
Does it really worth for me to serve a God like this?
I love Him, seriously, I love God... But with recent experiences, i need more of God, simply more! And i really hope that God will provide me with some more explanation.
On the other hand, I know some thing may best left alone, but why then God reveal the verse which prompts me to think like this? Even more, He know that i'm curious about things and can't leave this kind of things alone.
Some might say it was happen in the old testament where the Law was still being held up. And this is my consolation for the time being, that i live by grace, and no such thing will happen to my life... But i believe that every verse in Bible still applicable today... so how should i react to this?
If you happen to read this and care to share your thoughts, please do so... Any thought is happily accepted :)
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i don't dare to comment or criticise the way God acted or acts, but i believed it is a necessary discipline. true we live in grace yet it does not mean we can muck around.
ReplyDeleteand David, being a man with a huge responsibility to bear, might need to learn how his actions affect those he leads.
what do you think?
yes, we lack the bigger picture that we can't possibly fathom all of God's action...
ReplyDeleteyet being an inquisitive mind, i certainly want to learn more about God, of course i also bear in mind that God is God because we can't know everything about Him.
as you've said, David bear huge responsibility. But it was God who chose him. which i reckon God should see him through, not posing him with temptation and putting affliction on his people so he can learn his lesson...
and again, He is God. I've said it many times that God is God, He knows all and I know nothing. which sometimes makes me wonder whether i can obtain satisfaction in wanting to know Him more.
u're a curious one, aren't u?
ReplyDeletefor now... i will say simply believe. i can't give no other answer for i am but a baby. i've tasted only an iota of His goodness and that is more than enough to make me believe and wanting more.
everything else, will be revealed in due time~
yes i am :)
ReplyDeletei also have tasted His love and i love Him so much... i want to know Him more, to experience Him more, but i feel that i only have to be satisfied with what "is" not what "should be". I should know Him more, but with every question i appear to know Him less.
I'm a God addict who can't get enough and frustrated because of it
hey have u got a link to pau's blog?
ReplyDeleteread the one titled knowing God.
it might answer some questions.
'course i do, i've read it and although it doesn't directly answer my question, i finally come to certain conclusion.
ReplyDeleteI conclude that despite our effort or our desire to know Him more, it's still up to Him to reveal Himself. it doesn't mean we can't pursue Him, in fact, since our effort can't satisfy ourselves, we are more dependent to God.
maybe i should be addicted to God, not addicted to "knowing God" lest i boast my knowledge.