The Bible in a Year
“If ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the Lord; and be sure your sin will find you out.” (Numbers 32:23)
As we journey through the Scriptures together, today’s reading brings us to a sobering and necessary theme: the character of sin. The tribes of Reuben and Gad approached Moses with what seemed like a reasonable request. They wanted to settle east of the Jordan in the land of Gilead because it was suitable for their livestock. Yet Moses discerned something deeper. If they refused to cross over and help their brothers conquer the Promised Land, they would not merely be breaking a social agreement—they would be sinning against the Lord.
That distinction is crucial.
Moses did not say, “You will sin against your fellow Israelites.” Though that would have been true, he elevated the matter to its rightful theological plane. “Ye have sinned against the Lord.” The primary evil of sin is vertical before it is horizontal. All wrongdoing ultimately violates the holiness and character of God. David understood this when he confessed after his grievous sins of adultery and murder: “Against thee, thee only, have I sinned” (Psalm 51:4). The Hebrew idiom does not deny the harm done to Bathsheba or Uriah. Rather, it magnifies the greater reality: the offense against a holy God dwarfs all other consequences.
In our culture, sin is often framed primarily in terms of social impact. We ask, “Who was hurt?” or “What were the consequences?” Those questions matter. Yet Scripture pushes us further. Sin is rebellion against the covenant Lord. The Hebrew word for sin, ḥāṭāʾ, carries the idea of “missing the mark.” It is not merely a moral slip; it is a deviation from God’s revealed will. The worst thing about sin is not that it damages our reputation, disrupts relationships, or brings embarrassment. The worst thing about sin is that it grieves the heart of God.
R.C. Sproul once wrote, “Sin is cosmic treason.” That phrase may sound strong, but it captures the biblical gravity of the matter. When we minimize sin, we shrink God. When we understand sin rightly, we are led to repentance and reverence.
The second truth Moses declares is equally weighty: “Be sure your sin will find you out.” Here is the predicted exposure of sin. Humanity has been attempting cover-ups since Genesis 3. Adam and Eve sewed fig leaves. Saul tried to justify his disobedience, yet the bleating of sheep exposed him (1 Samuel 15:14). The imagery is vivid. You can silence your conscience for a season, but you cannot silence reality forever.
The phrase “will find you out” suggests inevitability. Sin has a way of surfacing. It may emerge through circumstances, consequences, conscience, or community. Sometimes it reveals itself quickly; other times, years may pass. But Scripture is clear—concealed sin does not remain hidden indefinitely. The enemy whispers, “No one will ever know.” God’s Word responds, “It will come to light.”
Charles Spurgeon once observed, “The slyest serpent will at last be discovered.” That is not merely a warning; it is also a mercy. Exposure can become the doorway to restoration. When sin is brought into the light, grace can begin its healing work. First John 1:9 reminds us, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Notice the connection between confession and cleansing. What is acknowledged can be forgiven. What is hidden festers.
As I reflect on this passage, I must resist the temptation to apply it only to dramatic public failures. Numbers 32 is about keeping one’s word, about faithfulness to commitments. The tribes promised to stand with their brothers. To withdraw would have been convenient, even strategic—but disobedient. Sometimes sin disguises itself as practicality. It whispers, “This is better for you.” Yet the question remains: Does it honor the Lord?
In our daily walk, this passage invites personal examination. Where am I tempted to minimize sin because its consequences seem manageable? Where do I comfort myself with secrecy? The Scripture calls me back to reverent accountability. I live before the face of God—coram Deo, as the Reformers said. There is no private corner where His holiness does not reach.
Yet there is hope embedded even in this warning. The same God who sees also saves. The same Lord who exposes sin offers redemption through Christ. Exposure is not the end of the story. It is the beginning of repentance. As we continue through this year-long journey in the Bible, we are reminded that Scripture does not shy away from difficult truths. It names sin clearly so that grace may be cherished deeply.
Today, let us examine our commitments and our consciences. Let us confess quickly rather than conceal stubbornly. And let us remember that the fear of the Lord is not meant to crush us but to keep us close.
For further study on the seriousness of sin and biblical repentance, consider this helpful article from Ligonier Ministries:
https://www.ligonier.org/learn/articles/what-is-sin
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