Draw Near – 365 Guides to Greater Intimacy with GodSample

NAIL HOLES Seeking to make the consequences of careless living clear to his son, a father told him to drive a nail into the post every time he did something wrong. Then each time the boy did a kindly act, he was told to pull out a nail. The son did as instructed but soon found that although he could pull out the nail, he could do nothing about the nail hole. One might change his ways, but the scars of sin remain. David blatantly disobeyed God by "numbering Israel." The issue was not whether it was right or wrong to conduct the census. Rather, the issue was one of obedience. God had said "No," but David insisted on his own way. One iron law of life is that evil will be punished, and David's sin was no exception. Judgment came, and David was given alternatives for punishment. Of the choices given, David decided to take his chances with God rather than the cruelty of man (2 Samuel 24:10-14). It was a wise decision. Two important lessons come from this major Bible prayer. First of all, we can never get away with evil. We will always suffer with the scars of sin. But, second, we also can rely on the mercies of God to restore us, if we come in full confession and sincerely seek His help. How much better it is if we obey in the first place.