Satan is on A Leash

712 Today's Prime Time Devo comes from 2Sa 24:1 Again the anger of the LORD was aroused against Israel, and He moved David against them to say, "Go, number Israel and Judah." This is puzzling and fascinating at the same time. God's anger was kindled and so He moves David to take a census. Here's the thing about a census. It required a tax on the people that were being counted. Ex 30:12, 13 says, "When you take the census of the children of Israel for their number, then every man shall give a ransom for himself to the LORD, when you number them, that there may be no plague among them when you number them. 13 "This is what everyone among those who are numbered shall give: half a shekel according to the shekel of the sanctuary (a shekel is twenty gerahs). The half-shekel shall be an offering to the LORD.” Please note that it is imperative that this census include a tax. If the tax isn't levied and collected, the leader is inviting a plague to come upon the people. With that said, I also find it interesting that in this reading, we are told that “God moved David” to take the census, but in 1Ch 21:1 we read, “Now Satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to number Israel.” So which is it? Did God move David or Satan? The best answer is God allowed Satan to act and then ultimately used it for His glory. It is similar to the situation in Job. The devil asked permission of God to sift Job through trial and tribulation and got it, (with God imposed restrictions) Job 1:12, “And the LORD said to Satan, "Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person." Ultimately God was glorified in the situation. We know that Satan also desired to sift Peter with trial and tribulation Lu 22:31 And the Lord said, "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. 32 "But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren." Take heart from these passages, especially when you feel like Job or Peter knowing that Satan is on a God-ordained leash, he can only go as far as your loving Father allows!