Good, evil and freedom

2Samuel 24:1 records that the Lord incited David to conduct a census. 1Chronicles 21:1 states that Satan rose up against Israel by causing David to take the census. How do we reconcile this apparent contradiction? Even evil is subject to God’s sovereignty. God allows Satan to do his worst and then turns the result to His own ends. The Lord allowed the serpent into the garden. God challenged the devil to a dual over Job. The Holy Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted. What is amazing is that in all this, man somehow maintains his freedom. David acknowledged that, ultimately, it was his decision to count the people (2Sam 24:10). The Lord uses the devil to present us with opportunities to glorify Him. Sometimes we fail the test.