Be Sure Your Sin Will Find You Out.

Numbers 32:16-33 Be sure your sin will find you out. Numbers 32 – Settling of Gilead. The land on the east of the Jordan was called Gilead This was the land which Sihon king of the Amorites and Og king of Bashan once ruled

But Israel had defeated them in battle, and the land was taken over by Israel.

(a) The Request for the land: the tribe of Gad and Reuben wanted to settle there instead of on the west of the Jordan.

(b) The Remonstrating about the land: Moses did not receive the request well,

(c) The Resolve about the land: the two tribes said they would go to battle first

(d) The Ratifying of the land:

the condition for the ratifying (Moses accepted the request, if they were faithful );

the caution in the ratifying (Moses warned "be sure your sin will find you out" [ v. 23]); the communicating of the ratifying (Moses told Eleazar the high priest and Joshua about these conditions, and gave the land to the tribes of Gad, Reuben, and 1/2 of Manasseh).

(e) The Residing in the land: a list of the places and cities of Gilead is given.

23 But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out.

What is the sin that he mentions that is certain to find you out? It is the sin of omission— It is the sin of failing to do what we ought to do.

James 4:17 “To him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin”

I. A Very Destructive Sin

God brings judgment upon people not primarily for what they do, but what they don’t do.

Jesus cursed the fig tree, not because it brought forth poisonous fruit, but no fruit

Jesus told the parable of the Good Samaritan, and the priest and the Levite passed by

in the parable of the talents, when Jesus gave to various men certain talents. And, there was one man who had a talent, and he took it and hid it in the ground (Matthew 25:18). He did nothing with it, and was called “wicked and slothful,” (Matthew 25:26).

Why are men lost? “because they lie; they steal; they drink; they cheat; they murder; they’re proud; they’re arrogant.” No - John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already,because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God

when the Holy Spirit is come, He will convince the world of sin, because they believe not (John 16:8–9). Not because of what they do, but because of what they don’t do.

The reason people are lost is they haven’t believed.

The reason that people are weak is they have not received.(God's Word)

“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee” (Psalm 119:11)

Busy Man - ‘Where’s the church?’ ‘Dead’. ‘Oh,’‘they should not have let it die.’”

II. A Very Deceptive Sin

it’s such a respectable sin - It is so easy to hide.

When God told Saul to kill all of the Amalekites, and he failed, 1 Sam 15:22 And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. 23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.

III. A Very Determined Sin - and be sure your sin will find you out.

Your sin is like a bloodhound on your trail.

You will never, ever escape the consequences of the sin of omission

1 Tim 5:24 Some men’s sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after. - The only thing between you and judgment is time. This inevitable exposure will reveal three things:

1) Man’s Words “… for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned” (Matt. 12:36–37).

2) Man’s Works “… they were judged, each one according to his works” (Rev. 20:13).

2 Cor. 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

3) Man’s Wants. Dan. 5:27 Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.

Mark 10:21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.