About the 'numbering of the people' incident given twice in the Bible...(see below)?

Question

I don't have it right in front of me, so I can't cite chapter and verse, but those of you who know your Bibles shouldn't have much trouble finding the relevant scriptures... Both incidents describe David numbering the people and getting in trouble with God over it. But, one book of the Bible says GOD ordered David to number the people (and then punished him!), while ANOTHER book says SATAN instigated David's action!!! If you read the description, there's no way it was two different episodes - everything is identical except for who gets credit/blame for manipulating David into sinning (evidently, numbering the people was a sin). Well...?

Answer 1

God ALLOWED Satan to tempt David to do it, but God didn't cause David to do it. David had it in him, and God allowed Satan to tempt David, as a refining test.

We are refined by the Lord so we may shine before Him.

The two scriptures work together to give us the full story of what happened, and what we can learn from it.

Answer 2

I don't really know the workings of spiritual things and the Bible doesn't tell us a lot about how God and Satan function together, so I am somewhat guessing here. I personally believe God is sovereign and controls all things including Satan. If God were to lead David to do the nubering of Israel, I think He would do it through Satan. So in that sence both God and Satan were involved in motivating David to do that. Maybe something like in I Cor 7 where Paul says "I have decided to deliver such a one over to Satan for the destructon of his flesh so that his spirit may be saved..." I think God uses Satan for His ends. That may not be much help, but is the way I put it together.

Answer 3

It's in 1st Chronicles, chapter 21 I think. BRB.

OK, that's the one where Satan incited David. Where is the other one?

Answer 4

That numbering happen a LONG time ago.
Not today.
Stop worrying about what happen back then.

Answer 5

well