First Chronicles 21:1 provides a classic illustration of double causality. It says, “Then Satan stood against Israel and incited David to number Israel. So David said to Joab and the commanders of the army, “Go, number Israel, from Beersheba to Dan, and bring me a report, that I may know their number.” (1 Chronicles 21:1–2 ESV)
Who incited David to number Israel?
Satan.
Seems simple enough.
But what about 2 Samuel 24:1? It says:
Again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he incited David against them, saying, “Go, number Israel and Judah.” 2 So the king said to Joab, the commander of the army, who was with him, “Go through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, and number the people, that I may know the number of the people.” (2 Samuel 24:1–2 ESV)
2 Samuel 24 states very plainly that it was the LORD who incited David to number Israel.
So who was it? Satan or the LORD?