“But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the Lord, and be sure your sin will find you out.” Numbers 32:22
As the Children of Israel come to the end of their Wilderness Journey, Moses is approached by the Tribes of Reuben and Gad. We’re told that “they saw the land of Jazer and the land of Gilead, that it was indeed a place suitable for livestock” and that they “had a very large number of livestock.” They put 2 and 2 together and requested, “If we have found favor in your sight, let this land be given to your servants as our property; do not take us across the Jordan.” Moses responds cautiously, warning them what happened the last time the People balked at going into Canaan and how “the Lord’s anger burned against Israel, and He made them wander in the wilderness for forty years”.
However, Reuben and Gad assure Moses that their Intentions are not to leave their Brothers to this War on their own. They fully intend to join them in this Effort and would come across the Jordan and fight. They just wanted to leave their “Many Livestock”, and their Wives and Children, behind in these new empty cities while they were gone. They wanted the Land they had just conquered to be “their” Inheritance, but would not return until the Lord had driven all His enemies out of Canaan. To this, Moses was willing to agree, and that brings us to Today’s Verse, where he issues the Serious Warning.
Here’s a thought for consideration. Though this is a Universal Maxim, “Every” Man’s Sin will find him on Judgement Day, it is especially true for God’s People. The Wicked may know years of Peace and Prosperity, never experiencing any retribution for their Sins…until that Last Day, when they stand before God in Judgement. But God’s People have a Father, and as we’ve seen before, He is “Active” in His Children’s lives, disciplining them when they have done wrong. But you say “I’m a Christian; Jesus died for my sins!” That may be true, but if you “are” a Child of God, your Father will be dealing with you accordingly.
See Hebrews 12:4-11 for more details!