Numbers 32:16-23 3/23/25 A.M.
This week I want to talk about something that has been in the news lately and it’s kind of TABBOO. Something you just don’t talk about. I will be sensitive and careful about what I say.
This week a lady by the name of Cindy Clemishire testified before a state house committee in Austin, Texas. She is from the town of Hominy, Oklahoma. And she gave testimony on the ABUSE she suffered in 1982, as a 12 year old girl, at the hands of a man who became FAMOUS as the PASTOR of a MEGACHURCH. She was told by him to not tell anyone or it would RUIN EVERYTHING. And so she was groomed by this man until the age of 17, and at that time, she came forward and told her parents what had been happening for 5 years. For five years she had been keeping a SECRET but now it was out in the open. Right? NO, NO it wasn’t. Because in 1987, the church he was working for at the time, basically swept it under the rug. He was removed from his position for two years. And so this woman suffered SHAME while he went on to have FAME. He established a Megachurch. He was seen on television all around the world. He’s authored several books and sold thousands of them. But last year, EVERYTHING CAME TO LIGHT!!! No longer was it a secret. And when I heard what had happened, a scripture came to my mind. It’s found in Numbers Chapter 32.
So let’s go ahead and turn there and we’ll start reading at Verse 16 and we’ll read all the way down to Verse 23.
“And they came near unto him, and said, We will build sheepfolds here for our cattle, and cities for our little ones:
17 But we ourselves will go ready armed before the children of Israel, until we have brought them unto their place: and our little ones shall dwell in the fenced cities because of the inhabitants of the land.
18 We will not return unto our houses, until the children of Israel have inherited every man his inheritance.
19 For we will not inherit with them on yonder side Jordan, or forward; because our inheritance is fallen to us on this side Jordan eastward.
20 And Moses said unto them, If ye will do this thing, if ye will go armed before the Lord to war,
21 And will go all of you armed over Jordan before the Lord, until he hath driven out his enemies from before him,
22 And the land be subdued before the Lord: then afterward ye shall return, and be guiltless before the Lord, and before Israel; and this land shall be your possession before the Lord.
23 But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the Lord: and be sure your sin will find you out.
This is my third week in the Old Testament and I wanted to preach out of the New Testament today, but I can’t. I feel led to bring this message to you today.
“Be sure your SIN will find you out.”
The preacher I spoke about earlier is Robert Morris. Listen, I thought about this a while before I decided to even bring it up. And I bring this up with a heavy heart and humility. Paul tells us in Galatians 6:1,
“Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.”
None of us are above TEMPTATION. None of us have lived a perfect life. Paul also told the Corinthian church in 1 Corinthians 10:12 “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.”
But I brought this up as an example and a warning to you and I today. I pray for Robert Morris and his family. And I pray for the victim. And I want to say this. It’s time that Robert Morris be OPEN and HONEST about what happened.
My message today is NOT ABOUT him and what he did. It’s about COVERING UP SIN. I pray that every church in America will take heed. I pray that every church in America will take steps to NOT ALLOW these things to happen. We have a GREAT responsibility to care for those that God has given us.
Before I get into my message I want to say just a couple of things. I commit to you to be open and honest. We as a church WILL NOT sweep things under the rug. This situation with Robert Morris should have been dealt with 38 years ago.
And another thing. I commit to you to be above board on all of my dealings. I don’t meet with ladies by myself. Rachel is always with me. I don’t hide things from her. She knows where I am and what I’m doing. We have an APP on our phones that tell us each other’s location. But there is one bad thing about this APP, it also tells Rachel how fast I’m driving.
So let’s go ahead and get into the message but before we do let’s go the Lord in prayer.
Brother ___, would you lead us?
Now I want to take a few minutes and get you up to speed here in Chapter 32 of Numbers. Here’s the reason that Moses said “Be sure your sin will find you out.” 40 years earlier the Children of Israel had come up to the Jordan River and were ready to cross over to the Promised Land. But before they did, a group of 12 spies were sent ahead to scout out the land. What they found when they got there was AWESOME. Fertile land, natural resources, just exactly what they would need. But there was a problem. GIANTS. There were GIANTS in the land and they saw themselves as GRASSHOPPERS. And so 10 out of the 12 spies recommended that they NOT go over. Only Joshua and Caleb wanted to proceed forward. And so the people wandered around in the wilderness for 40 years. Now they were back and it was time to cross over but out of the 12 tribes, 2 didn’t want to cross over. They wanted to stay on the wilderness side of the Jordan and take their land from that side.
Moses tells them that they will be needed to fight the inhabitants of the land. They had to cross over and help. And so those two tribes, the tribes of Reuben and Gad, agreed to cross over and help. And that’s basically when Moses tells them they better do it. They better stick to their word because, “Be Sure your SINS will find you out.”
I. When SIN comes KNOCKING, we have a CHOICE.
Look at the first part of Verse 23 there in Chapter 32 of Numbers. “But if ye will not do so” (Count them off. 7 words.)
Do you know what I get out of those seven words? They had a choice. You see, Moses knew the temptation they would face. We read Verses 16-18 where these delegates from the tribes of Reuben and Gad were talking to Moses. They said, “We’re gonna build CITIES for our families to live in ... on this side. And then we’ll build HOLDING PENS for our CATTLE ... on this side. But then we’ll go help fight and we won’t come home until everybody has what rightfully belongs to them.”
And I can just see Old Moses setting there shaking his head. “You’re gonna leave your wives and children and all of your cattle behind and you’re gonna go and fight until the wars are over. Ok, but remember, the TEMPTATION to STAY HOME will be GREAT. It’s gonna be TOUGH. Your gonna have a CHOICE TO MAKE and if you back out, if you don’t do what you said you would do, BE SURE YOUR SINS WILL FIND YOU OUT.”
So how did it end up? Well, the Tribes of Gad and Reuben did go and help fight, like they said they would, and then they returned home to their wives and children.
But folks, it never was GOD’S PLAN for the 12 tribes of Israel to be separated. God wanted all of the 12 tribes to live close to each other for several reasons.
He wanted them to be able to worship at the Tabernacle together.
He wanted them to be able protect each other.
And He wanted them to be insulated from pagan influence. There was plenty of land on the West side for all of them. There was no reason for this but that’s not what they wanted.
And sure enough, years later the Assyrian Army came in and took them all into captivity to be their slaves. The entire 32nd Chapter of Numbers could have been left out if the Tribes of Gad and Reuben would have just done what God intended for them to do from the BEGINNING.
Listen, we all have CHOICES. And it is a CONSCIOUS DECISION that everyone of us will make whether we will serve God or NOT serve God. I HAVE A CHOICE. YOU HAVE A CHOICE. WE ALL HAVE A CHOICE. And until a person decides they are gonna really live for God, and really do right, really put God first in their life, they’re just WASTING THEIR TIME. I’m NOT talking about a WORKS SALVATION.
I’m talking about a CHOICE SALVATION. I’m TALKING ABOUT CHOOSING WHO and WHAT you will serve.
And listen folks, even after we’ve made our choice to serve Jesus, we’ll still face TEMPTATION, SIN is still gonna come KNOCKING, and we’re gonna have another choice to make.
Listen, we can set ourselves up for FAILURE or SUCCESS.
We can SURROUND OURSELVES with GODLY INFLUENCE or we can do things OUR OWN WAY.
I believe there are some things that may not be a SIN but we’d be a whole lot better off if we would just leave them alone.
There are things that we get involved in that may not be wrong but we better be careful because it might lead us astray.
Please listen to me. SIN is gonna come knocking. We can entertain it. We can think about it. We can look into it. We can pet it a little bit. We can dream about it. But you better beware.
That’s what James is talking about in James 1:14-16,
“But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
16 Do not err, my beloved brethren.”
All of these things will lead us into MORE SIN. OR, we can say NO!!!
“BUT IF YE WILL NOT DO SO” There’s your choice. We all have one. What are you gonna do with yours?
II. And when SIN COMES INTO OUR LIVES, there’s NO NEED to hide it, GOD SEES ALL!!!
You know, as Moses gave these words he KNEW that he wouldn’t be around to make sure that they did what they had promised. He would be dead by then.
But as he gave these words I betcha he thought back through the many times THAT SIN was found out.
A. I’m sure he remembered Adam and Eve only had ONE THING that they couldn’t do. Eat from the TREE of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Now I’m not real big on peaches so I’m sure that’s the tree that it was. A PEACH TREE. Anyway, what do you think they did? After God had told them not to LOOK at it, not to TOUCH it, and not to EAT it. They ATE IT. And then what did they do? They tried to HIDE IT!!! Genesis 3:6-8,
“And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
8 And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden.”
They tried to HIDE but it didn’t do any good. God already knew about their SIN.
B. Yeah, Moses knew all about hiding SIN. I’m sure his mind drifted back to his previous life living as the SON of Pharaoh’s daughter.
He KNEW who he was. He KNEW where he came from. He KNEW he was a HEBREW. And he sees an Egyptian beating one of his brethren so what does Moses do? He KILLS HIM and hides his body in the sand.
Look at Exodus 2, Verses 11-15,
“And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out unto his brethren, and looked on their burdens: and he spied an Egyptian smiting an Hebrew, one of his brethren.
12 And he looked this way and that way, and when he saw that there was no man, he slew the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand.
13 And when he went out the second day, behold, two men of the Hebrews strove together: and he said to him that did the wrong, Wherefore smitest thou thy fellow?
14 And he said, Who made thee a prince and a judge over us? intendest thou to kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian? And Moses feared, and said, Surely this thing is known.
15 Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to slay Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian: and he sat down by a well.”
Yeah, Old Moses knew all about HIDING SIN. That’s why he said, “BE SURE YOUR SINS WILL FIND YOU OUT.”
ILLUS: I remember years ago we were trying to help some folks. They was in a real financial bind. They needed help. So we, as a church, helped them. A few days later I was down in this little shopping center at the Health Food Store and you know what’s right down from there? Charlotte’s Country Spirits. It’s a Liquor Store. And you’ll never guess who I saw coming out of there. That’s right, the fellow that we had helped out. And he SEES ME, SEEING HIM. So he jumps in his car and takes off. So what do you think I did? I couldn’t help myself folks. I followed him. He takes off down the street and then turns on this street ... and you know what a safe driver I am so I backed off and let him go.
You know what he was doing? He was trying to HIDE HIS SIN. I’ve had other folks try to hide things from me. They don’t want the preacher to see what they’re doing. Listen, I DON’T COUNT. You can hide things from me, your spouse, your friends, everybody else except GOD!!! He is the One who counts and you can’t hide anything from Him. HE SEES ALL!!!
ILLUS: You all remember that song we used to sing when we were little kids? (SING IT) “Oh be careful little eyes what you see.” “Oh be careful little feet where you go.” “Oh be careful little hands what you do.” “Oh be careful little ears what you hear.” Why? “There’s a Father up above, looking down in tender love, oh be careful little eyes, ears, hands, feet, what you do.”
THAT’S GOOD THEOLOGY RIGHT THERE.
When SIN COMES INTO OUR LIVES, there’s NO NEED to hide it, GOD SEES ALL!!!
III. When SIN COMES INTO OUR LIVES, there’s NO NEED to hide it, YOUR SIN is AGAINST GOD.
Look at the next part of Verse 23,
“ye have sinned against the Lord”
To keep this in reference to what Moses was saying. “If you don’t go and help the other tribes like you said you would, YOUR SIN IS AGAINST the LORD.”
They made their VOW to Moses to go and help. They promised the other 10 tribes that they would be there to help fight. And they needed to KEEP THAT VOW that they made to Moses. They needed to be there to HELP FIGHT. But if they didn’t do it,THEIR SIN would be against God. God would take care of the other tribes. He would give them everything they needed to defeat the inhabitants of the land. But that WOULD NOT EXCUSE the TRIBES of GAD and REUBEN. Their SIN would be against HIM.
Today we have what many call VICTIMLESS CRIMES. Drug Possession, Prostitution, Public Drunkedness, Traffic Violations. All of these are considered, by some people, to be a VICTIMLESS CRIME. No one gets hurt. There are no victims.
I personally don’t believe there is such a thing as VICTIMLESS CRIME, except maybe the dumb seat belt laws. LOL. You see all of these crimes effect other people, and more than that, they effect SOCIETY as a WHOLE. Morality as a whole is DEGRADED by these crimes, therefore they effect all of us.
And in the same way there are NO VICTIMLESS SINS.
People seem to have this MENTALITY that if it doesn’t hurt anyone else then it’s NOT WRONG to DO. Folks, every SIN is a SIN AGAINST GOD. Every SIN is a SIN that Jesus had to PAY the PRICE FOR.
Maybe it’s something you do behind closed doors or when you’re away from church and NOBODY knows about it.
A. Maybe it’s something that just appears on your screen and then it’s gone. Nobody got hurt right? PORN I need to tell you, that LUST in your heart is a SIN that Jesus died for.
And just like James 1 tells us. That LUST in your heart leads to even more SIN and that SIN will lead to DEATH. There is NO VICTIMLESS SIN. “Be sure your sins will find you out”
B. Maybe it’s the way you talk and act when you’re not at church. I know, I worked out there for many years. I SAW the way people act. I HEARD the things they said. Their NASTY TALK. The PROFANITY they used. Then they would tell me the church they went to. You know what they were? Hypocrites
“Be sure your sins will find you out”
ILLUS: I remember years ago I had that exact situation. A fellow worker was talking nasty and then he told me where he went to church. I said, “You go to church? I never would have dreamed it.” That offended him but it was TRUTH.
“Be sure your sins will find you out.”
And today, there’s a PRICE to PAY for CRIMES that are committed. It’s been 38 years since the crime of Robert Morris was swept under the RUG. And now today, he has had to resign from his MEGACHURCH. And he has been charged with 5 counts of LEWD or INDECENT ACTS with a child. He faces up to 100 years in prison. Some may say that he has been CHARGED but NOT convicted. That’s true, but he has admitted to inappropriate conduct with the victim. So there you go. It’s so sad. So many people have been hurt by this.
But here’s the WONDERFUL PART of this story. Jesus SHED HIS BLOOD on the Cross of Calvary to REDEEM US. He DIED so that you and I can make Heaven our home.
1 John 1:7, “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”
There is HOPE for Robert Morris a SINNER, there is HOPE for me a SINNER, and there is HOPE for you a SINNER.
Confess your sins. Don’t try to hide them because, if you do, “BE SURE YOUR SINS WILL FIND YOU OUT”
Jesus wants to be your Savior today. Will you let Him?
Let’s Pray
