Numbers 32:23 But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out. Let me give you some synonyms for the word translated ‘be sure. The easiest to understand is to be certain. It is followed by be aware, then be assured. God is trying to convince men and women of Israel of the certainty of sin and punishment if they fall from following the truth spoken by God. Deuteronomy 8:11 Beware that thou forget not the LORD thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day: This verse tells us expressly what God considers as sin. Not being obedient to the dictates of Gods Word when he gave men His commands and judgments and statutes is all sinful.
Hosea 2:8-9 For she did not know that I gave her corn, and wine, and oil, and multiplied her silver and gold, which they prepared for Baal. Therefore will I return, and take away my corn in the time thereof, and my wine in the season thereof, and will recover my wool and my flax given to cover her nakedness.
This verse tells of a time when Israel was being willfully ignorant of the blessings of God. ‘She did not know’ must be based on the fact that she had not been taught or ignored the teaching of the Elders, because the Elders were commanded to teach the next generations about the Holiness of God, of His care, of his blessing on them as He watched over them.
Since they did not ‘know’ her prosperity was because of the blessings of God, God returned and took back the things Israel had relied on always being there for their use. Of course, there would always be corn, and wine and oil. It had never failed in the past so they were absolutely reliant on it always being there for them.
Our beginning verse spoke of Israel being sure their sins would find them out. This is Old Testament, but remember something very import.. .God does not change. The Bible tell us that Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. He never changes. (Hebrews 13:8) Logic tells us that if God does not change, then His precepts do not change. If His precepts do not change, then our sin will be found out and punished.
The Bible tells us quite plainly that we cannot keep a secret fait or sin that will not be revealed at the judgment seat.
Mark 4:22 For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad.
Romans 2:16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.
And those secrets will be judged. Mans attempt to hid some dark things he has hidden from the people around him is sure to come to light and it might happen before he is judged. It could happen today or tomorrow instead of waiting for the judgment seat to be revealed.
Revelation 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
And here is one of the most important concepts to understand. We are judged by the condition of our hearts. Those who refuse to acknowledge God, those who chose to do wrong over right (even though they know better), those who desire a life destined for self destruction will be judged harshly. They are storing up God’s wrath against them.
Romans 2:5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; The last thought I want to impress upon you, gentle reader, is that just like it tells us in Numbers 32:23.. .be sure your sin will find you out. Get rid of your hard heart. Ask for forgiveness and repent of the bad things the world tells you are just fine to do. You know better. Deep down where you live, you know better. Those things are not fine.
