… Made to be broken.” That’s, what my mother used to say.
Numbers 32:23 NLT
[23] “But if you fail to keep your word, then you will have sinned against the Lord, and you may be sure that your sin will find you out.”
How often this statement is misread; not “Be sure your sin will be found out,” but “Be sure your sin will FIND YOU OUT.”
In the statement “be sure your sin will find you out” is revealed the mystery of sin. The nature of sin is such that, whether or not others discover your sin, your sin will “discover you.” You cannot run from sin’s consequences. Sin carries within itself the power to pay the sinner back, and sin’s payback is hell. Don’t even think about toying with sin. It cannot be tamed, outrun, or shaken off. No matter how safe you think you are, if you are a sinner, your sin will find you out. Your heart will be exposed for what it is.
Jeremiah 17:9-10 NLT
[9] “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? [10] But I, the Lord, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve.”
Moses’ warning to the tribes of Israel, in our verse, “be sure your sin will find you out,” is echoed by Paul: “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life” (Galatians 6:7–8). In the context, when we fail to support those who teach us God’s word, our selfish “flesh” will reap its fruit, like the law of the harvest.
The only way to escape sin’s consequences is to be forgiven by faith in the death and resurrection of Christ (Romans 10:9; 1 John 2:2; Revelation 1:5) and to receive a new heart and a new spirit.
Ezekiel 36:26 NLT
[26] “And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.”
The context of our verse puts a specific sin into perspective. Two tribes, Reuben and Gad, requested territory on the east side of the Jordan River, during their conquest of the Promised Land. Moses interpreted their request as a way of dodging their obligation to fight alongside the rest of the tribes to take possession of their inheritance.
The leaders of these two tribes promised Moses that they would fight once their families were settled in the land they requested.
Reassured by their promise, Moses gave them what they wanted but warned them of the consequences, should they fail to keep their promise. In this context, he said,
“… You may be sure that your sin will find you out.”
Two principles emerge from this warning.
- Broken promises expose a sinful heart.
- Broken promises are sin against God.
Why is it so important to God that we honour our word? What God says is precious.
Psalms 19:7-11 NIV
[7]”The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. [8] The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. [9] The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the Lord are firm, and all of them are righteous. [10] They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb. [11] By them your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward.”
Psalms 138:2 NLT
[2]”I bow before your holy Temple as I worship. I praise your name for your unfailing love and faithfulness; for your promises are backed by all the honor of your name.”
God’s word is everything to God and to us. He works through His word.
Psalms 33:6 NLT
[6] “The Lord merely spoke, and the heavens were created. He breathed the word, and all the stars were born.”
2 Peter 1:4 NLT
[4] And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.
God Himself came in the person of the Son to be the living Word.
John 1:14 NLT
[14] So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.
Since God cannot lie and since His word is His bond, we can trust Him to do what He promised.
Numbers 23:19 NLT
[19] “God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through?”
Therefore, when we make promises we have no intention of keeping or for some reason we cannot or do not keep , we are lying. As God’s children, we are to live in keeping with His character and grow in our likeness to our Creator.
Colossians 3:9-10 NIV
[9] “Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices [10] and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.”
So, Jesus said,
Matthew 5:37 NLT
[37] “Just say a simple, ‘Yes, I will,’ or ‘No, I won’t.’ Anything beyond this is from the evil one.”
We need to be careful of what we say and what promises we make because there is no room in God’s kingdom for liars.
Revelation 22:14-15 NLT
[14] “Blessed are those who wash their robes. They will be permitted to enter through the gates of the city and eat the fruit from the tree of life. [15] Outside the city are the dogs—the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idol worshipers, and all who love to live a lie.”