Who Incited the Lord against Israel?
Second Samuel 24 1-3 . . . N K J V: –
“Again the anger of the LORD was aroused against Israel, and He moved David against them to say, "Go, number Israel and Judah." So the king said to Joab the commander of the army who was with him, "Now go throughout all the tribes of Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, and count the people, that I may know the number of the people." And Joab said to the king, "Now may the LORD your God add to the people a hundred times more than there are, and may the eyes of my lord the king see it. But why does my lord the king desire this thing?"
First Chronicles 21 1-3 . . . N K J V: –
“Now Satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to number Israel. So David said to Joab and to the leaders of the people, "Go, number Israel from Beersheba to Dan, and bring the number of them to me that I may know it." And Joab answered, "May the LORD make His people a hundred times more than they are. But, my lord the king, are they not all my lord's servants? Why then does my lord require this thing? Why should he be a cause of guilt in Israel?"
Nothing can happen unless God allows it.
God did not cause David to number Israel directly but He allowed Satan to stir him up to number Israel but it is the same as God caused it because Satan could not stir up David to number Israel unless God allowed it.
Jdg 9:23 Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech.
1Sa 16:23 And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.
1Sa 19:9 And the evil spirit from the LORD was upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his javelin in his hand: and David played with his hand.
Sometimes God would allow an evil spirit to influence someone but God did not influence them directly but it is the same as an evil spirit from the LORD.
Job 1:12 And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.
Satan can do nothing unless God allows it and He allowed Satan to stir up David to number Israel but it is the same as if God did it for it could not happen unless He allowed it but He did not do it directly because God does not tempt any person.