Who Moved David to Number Israel?

The following two verses are often quoted as being a contradiction in the Bible. It is stated that one verse says that Satan "moved" or "provoked" David to number Israel, but the other says that it was the Lord who "moved" David to number Israel. Which was it? Is this a contradiction?

How does God move people? He does not "control" us - we have free will. Neither do we control God, and yet we can "move" God:

Deuteronomy 32:21 They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God; they have provoked me to anger with their vanities:

To be "moved" is to be placed in a situation in which we are prompted to make a choice. This can be based on an evoked emotion, knowledge, desire, etc. A dictionary definition of "move" (v.t.) is "to stir the emotions, feelings, or passions of" This does not necessarily indicate intention, but only a stirring that results in activity. In the example above (Deut 32:21), it is not likely that the people set out with the purposeful intention of causing God to be jealous and angry toward them, and yet their actions did stir up these things.

How does God "move" people? In the following example, God moved people to act in accordance with the prayer of Jehoshaphat by causing facts to be revealed. He did not control their actions, but did reveal information which caused them to act.

2 Chr. 18:31 through 2 Chr. 18:32 (KJV)
{31} And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, It is the king of Israel. Therefore they compassed about him to fight: but Jehoshaphat cried out, and the LORD helped him; and God moved them to depart from him. {32} For it came to pass, that, when the captains of the chariots perceived that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back again from pursuing him.

In the case of David, we are not told exactly how God "moved" David to number the people. However, we do know that the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel. This phrase "anger was kindled" is usually used when judgment is near. It is also associated with God removing his protection (Judges 2:14), and thereby "delivering" them into the hands of the adversary.

Judges 2:14 And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and he sold them into the hands of their enemies round about, so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies.

Now, when a man is going down the path of rejecting the way of the Lord, he is taking the path of Satan. The path of Satan is simply the path of rejecting God. Those who reject the path of God are taking the same path as Satan took - i.e. that of rebellion.

The act of numbering the people is an act of pride since the sole purpose would be to know the number of warriors in which he could trust. The was an act of opposition to trusting in God, for he had promised that with God, numbers were not significant.

Joshua 23:10 One man of you shall chase a thousand: for the LORD your God, he it is that fighteth for you, as he hath promised you.

Now, as the adversary (Satan) stood up against the nation of God, David's heart was lifted up in pride in this situation. Instead of trusting in God, he numbered the people. Who moved David's heart? Satan provided the opportunity in the adversaries of Israel opposing David. God may have withdrawn his protection (anger was kindled against Israel) so that David felt weak. These events combined to "move" David to act as he did. In this situation both statements (i.e. "Satan moved David", and "God moved David") are appropriate as the actions of both stirred (or moved) David to act. They do not contradict one another, but serve to show that both situations (the adversaries opposing David, and God removing his protection) contributed to the decision of David.

-- David A. Duncan