Incited to Sin - 2 Chronicles 20-24

 2 Samuel 24:1 (ESV)

Again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he incited David against them, saying, “Go, number Israel and Judah.”

1 Chronicles 21:1(ESV) 

Then Satan stood against Israel and incited David to number Israel.

In the above two passages we have two challenges before us:

1. They Samuel passages states that God “incited” David to number Israel out of His anger against Israel.  The Chronicle passage states that Satan incited David. Which is right? 

2. Does God actually “incite” us to disobey Him?   James 1:13 informs us that God CAN’T to that:

James 1:13-15 (ESV)

Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

To helps us discern answers to these two areas, maybe one of the challenges gives us the answer for the other.   Something to remember as we wade into these waters is that 2 Samuel and 1 Chronicles were written at different times for different reasons.   The books of Samuel and the two books of Kings were written prior to the exile of Israel/Judah into captivity.  The books of Chronicles were written after.  The first group was written to warn the nation to repent.  Chronicles was written to give an account of what happen but to offer inspiration and hope as they rebuilt the nation and city of Jerusalem.  Chronicles is the last book of the Hebrew Bible and it is intended for the nation to learn from those lessons and move forward.   

This, of course, does not immediately answer our above questions, but gives us understanding of the purpose of the books. A key item to realize is that the passages in James can’t be violated when we are handling the above verses.  God does not tempt man and cannot.    It might be wise to listen to Job’s words after Satan came before God to ask permission to attack him.  God allowed it, but Satan did it.   Note what Job stated:

Job 1:20-21 (ESV)

Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. And he said, “Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.”

In the story of Job Satan was allowed to attack Job’s family.  God simply permitted it, but He did not do it.  Satan used the wickedness in the hearts of other men to attack Job’s servants and his prosperity.  God allowed Satan to used the wind of nature to destroy them.   God did not do it, but He pulled back His grace to allow it.  Job no longer had God’s grace protecting him.   During the first of Satan’s attack, God protected Job’s body.  In the second He allowed Satan to do that.  

In the above passages about David God used David's pride by removing His grace that held back that pride.  Satan then incited David. God allowed all this to punish Israel for their waywardness.   God did not do it, but He removed a measure of His grace so that Satan could.   If it where not for God’s constant grace, Satan would destroy us all.   He would create total anarchy and calamity.  Notice that Isaiah stated something similar about God:

Isaiah 45:5-7 (ESV)

I am the LORD, and there is no other,

besides me there is no God;

I equip you, though you do not know me,

that people may know, from the rising of the sun

and from the west, that there is none besides me;

I am the LORD, and there is no other.

I form light and create darkness;

I make well-being and create calamity;

I am the LORD, who does all these things.

This passage in Isaiah was written to non-believing, foreign king.  God would use him to create calamity in Israel’s life to bring them back to Him.   All God had to do was pull make a small measure of His grace and allow sin and Satan to do what it naturally wants to do.   This is one more reason why the New Testament writers opened up many of their books with the phrase, “Grace and mercy be multiplied to you.”   Without God’s grace we all would do terrible things.   It is in our nature.   It is only God’s grace that keeps us back from sin and destruction.