The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

1 Chronicles 21:1-2, “Then Satan stood up against Israel and moved David to number Israel.

2 So David said to Joab and to the princes of the people, ‘Go, number Israel from Beersheba even to Dan, and bring me word that I may know their number.’”

Some things in Scripture are difficult to understand. David’s numbering of the people in First Chronicles 21 is one of great difficulty. Every temptation that comes our way is from Satan. God temps no one! But everything is ultimately under God’s control, so we must conclude that every temptation that comes to us is one that God has allowed Satan to do.

David’s numbering of the people was either due to his pride or due to something he had in mind for the entire nation, like a system of taxation. In any event, it was something the LORD had not ordered –just something David himself decided to do.

Counting our resources for anything rather than being dependent on the LORD amounts to sin in God’s eyes. A preacher who fails to study, thinking that he can say what is necessary without the LORD’s guidance through Scripture, is bound to fail. A witness who attempts to share the LORD with an unsaved person without being prayerful and seeking the LORD’s guidance will find himself lacking answers to questions he is asked.

Think about this as you go about your daily activates. Is what you are about to do what HE wants? Is HE directing your thoughts and plans? David repents of his sin; nevertheless, the LORD punishes him. Repentance clears the slate with God, but there are always consequences!

You are in our daily thoughts and prayer,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”