The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Numbers 32:23,
"But if you fail to do this, you will be sinning against the Lord; and you may be sure that your sin will find you out."
"This" in the above verse refers to a commitment the tribes of Gad and Reuben made to fight together with the rest of Israel to take the promised land from the Canaanites. Those two tribes wanted land on the east side of the Jordan, already won, and Moses told them they could have it only after Gad and Reuben agreed to fight together with the other ten tribes.
Moses' statement was a threat to these two tribes should they renege on their commitment, born out of a truth about sin. No one can sin and not pay the consequences.
We may feel we can "get away with it" if we are crafty enough, but no one is as crafty as God, "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account." Hebrews 4:13.
The book of Proverbs is a manual on skillful living. Here is a thought it provides on this issue: "The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways, but the folly of fools is deception." Proverbs 14:8. We may think we can get away with sin, and we might-- but only for a while. To think our sin won't "find you out" is merely a deception.
Here is a thought Paul provides, "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life." Galatians 6:7-8.
"But if you fail to do this, you will be sinning against the Lord; and you may be sure that your sin will find you out."
"This" in the above verse refers to a commitment the tribes of Gad and Reuben made to fight together with the rest of Israel to take the promised land from the Canaanites. Those two tribes wanted land on the east side of the Jordan, already won, and Moses told them they could have it only after Gad and Reuben agreed to fight together with the other ten tribes.
Moses' statement was a threat to these two tribes should they renege on their commitment, born out of a truth about sin. No one can sin and not pay the consequences.
We may feel we can "get away with it" if we are crafty enough, but no one is as crafty as God, "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account." Hebrews 4:13.
The book of Proverbs is a manual on skillful living. Here is a thought it provides on this issue: "The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways, but the folly of fools is deception." Proverbs 14:8. We may think we can get away with sin, and we might-- but only for a while. To think our sin won't "find you out" is merely a deception.
Here is a thought Paul provides, "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life." Galatians 6:7-8.
A sobering truth about sin: it will find us out!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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