17 April | EVERYONE
“And David said to Gad, ‘I am in great distress. Please let me fall into the hand of the Lord, for His mercies are very great; but do not let me fall into the hand of man.’” 1 Chronicles 21:13
Israel was enveloped that day by a sad smell of a weary afternoon. In the distance, there could be heard the melancholy wails of some nocturnal bird, groans of pain, and cries of repentance. King David had offended God by ordering a census to be taken in the town. Joab, his trusted general, advised him not to do so but power confuses, obfuscates, and often brutalizes those in position of power.
David did not listen to the advice. He forgot God, His past mercies, and the extraordinary way He had defeated his enemies. David believed that he needed to know the exact number of his warriors to trust in their strength, instead of trusting in God.
It did not take long for the results to appear. The Lord expressed His displeasure, and although David repented and asked for forgiveness, God gave him a choice among three paths that were before him as a result of his pride: three years of famine for the people, three months of defeat to his enemies, or three days of an evil pestilence that would decimate the children of his people.
David was distraught and, as we read in today's verse, simply replied that he would rather "fall into the hand of the Lord" than "into the hands of man." And indeed, it is. May God save you from falling, but if one day you fall, may the Lord save you from falling into the hands of men; for unlike these, God forgives. In fact on that occasion, Jehovah eventually mitigated the damage after an initial devastation.
Take Action
Trust in God and not in your strength. Everything you have achieved so far is, directly or indirectly, the result of God's love. You have only been an instrument in His hands. Do not believe that you are the maker of your successes.