Confused

• Exodus 30:11 (MSG)
• Exodus 30:12 (MSG)
• Exodus 30:13 (MSG)
• 2 Samuel 24:1 (MSG)
• 2 Samuel 24:2 (MSG)

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When I initially read this passage, I was confused. How could God be upset with David when He asked him to take a census? David was only doing what he was told to do, and God never specified, in that passage, not to hand count them. Thus, I began to do some research and discovered that in Exodus 30, the Lord spoke to Moses and told him the rules regarding the census, in that if any were to be counted a plague may befall them.

Exodus 30:11-13, "The
Lord spoke to Moses: When you take a census of the Israelites to register
them, at registration all of them shall give a ransom for their lives to
the Lord, so that no plague may come upon them for being registered. This
is what each one who is registered shall give: half a shekel according to
the shekel of the sanctuary (the shekel is twenty gerahs), half a shekel as
an offering to the Lord."

Now, I can assume that David knew of this, along with others which is why there was resistance from Joab. It's clear how David's disobedience was unpleasing to God. But its also a good point to remember that we must be sure of Gods word. We cannot "forget" his Word or his commandments as you may be tempted at some point in that area and God is expecting you to keep His law. Therefore, as we all continue our day, take a moment to ask God to bring back to your remembrance all those lessons/words/revelations/epiphanies that you've learned in your walk with Him that I'm sure He would not want you to forget. -- God Bless

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