The Built-In Risk of Success

Then Satan stood against Israel and incited David to number Israel. 1 Chronicles 21:1

Sometimes checking your bank balance or the status of your portfolio isn’t always a good idea. In fact, sometimes it can be a terrible idea.

David was the most powerful man in the world. He had led Israel from national infancy to being a dominant world power, all under the guidance of the gracious hand of God. And in a moment of weakness, he decided to count his troops.

He wasn’t at war, he wasn’t being invaded and he wasn’t planning a surprise attack. David was at peace, and somehow he thought it was a good idea to see just how strong and powerful he really was.

Bad idea. Really bad idea. Actually, it was a satanic idea.

There are only 18 direct references to Satan in the Old Testament, and this is one of them. Satan decided to tempt David, and he did it by having David number his troops.

Question: What’s the big deal? Shouldn’t a leader know the size of his army? No. At least not when that leader has sworn his dependence on the Lord God.

David numbering his troops was the spiritual equivalent to his taking full credit for the powerful leader he had become. It’s what Nebuchadnezzar did when he looked at the great city of Babylon and basically said, “Hey God, look what I’ve done.”

In both cases, God ended up humbling the arrogant kings.

So what’s the danger of “numbering your troops?” Pride. Self-reliance. Self-assurance. Independence from God.

He or she who can write a check to solve just about any problem is never more than a step or two away from deciding he or she doesn’t need God.

That’s why God commands us to give, to serve and to sacrifice. It keeps us dependent.

Beware of any action on earth that has you basically telling God that you’ve got things under control. The reality is you don’t and he will be happy to remind you of that fact.

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