BIBLE READING: 1 CHRONICLES 20-22, JOHN 10: 22-42
Memory verse: “And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel” 1 Chronicles 21:1 (KJV).
The devil has always sought to gain control over God’s creation and right from the Garden of Eden, he has always employed subtle devices to achieve his aim. He knows that the only way to gain access to man is to make man an enemy of God by causing man to disobey God thereby resulting in a breach of God’s defense over man. He uses the subtle art of deception to do this. We can see this in the story of the fall of man written in Genesis 3:1-24. All he needed to do was convince Eve to disobey and when she and Adam had eaten of the fruit, their eyes were open. Sin was introduced and so was judgment pronounced. Today the world is yet to recover from that singular experience.
Whenever the enemy lurks around, he seeks to achieve his aim which is to steal, kill and destroy. “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” John 10:10 (KJV). He only comes to steal our peace, kill our joy and destroy our relationship with God. This is why we must be very careful and alert to his antics. He has transformed himself into an angel of light with intent to deceive and make you enter into error with God.
Isn’t it shocking that a man like David who loved the Lord would go against God’s instruction? Yes it was a direct disobedience to God but he was deceived into it. Ordinarily, a census isn’t bad and shouldn’t be the reason for God being angry but God had already instructed David not to do a census which David agreed to initially. “But David took not the number of them from twenty years old and under: because the LORD had said he would increase Israel like to the stars of the heavens”. 1 Chronicles 27:23 (KJV). So what now happened? Our answer is in our memory verse. Satan rose up against Israel by causing the king to disobey God. Even when David was advised against it by Joab knowing the possible outcome, yet he went on with the census. That’s how terrible satanic deception can be. “And Joab answered, The LORD make his people an hundred times so many more as they be: but, my lord the king, are they not all my lord’s servants? why then doth my lord require this thing? why will he be a cause of trespass to Israel? 1 Chronicles 21:3 (KJV).
Action Point: Repent from any area you have been deceived into disobeying God and make up your mind never to be deceived again.
Pastor Chika Nnamdi Ifeanacho