What was wrong with taking a census - a counting of people - in ancient Israel? All nations do this, for we need this information for taxes, military strength, and the workforce. And yet God was angry when David counted the people and gave him a choice of three punishments. God saw David's action as a lack of faith and trust. He did not rely on God to provide for the people, and he was planning to exploit them for his own selfish purposes. We count and analyze many things, and it is a form of control. When we become set on controlling things, it is indeed a lack of trust!

Jesus was well-known in the synagogue, for it was his hometown. That was the problem - the people were cynical and didn't believe in him because he was too familiar to them. It is difficult for people to recognize God working through the ordinary and the known. We need to lay aside our expectations. Because of their lack of faith, Jesus was unable to work miracles in that town. We often block God's miracles and power by our scepticism and lack of faith.