Nowhere to Hide

“…Be sure your sin will find you out.” Numbers 32:23

We all at some time in our lives choose to enter the dark side of sin. Just be warned that when you do, it will become known. You can voluntarily enter the dark side, but you cannot hide from the consequences. Veteran gamblers have an old saying, “There is no such thing as a sure thing,” but the Bible says otherwise. According to Numbers 32:23, there is one thing that is so sure, you can literally bet your life on it…your sin will find you out.

No one has ever gotten away with sin and no one ever will. The Bible doesn’t say, “Be sure that others will find out about your sin.” Maybe other people will never find out. It simply says, “Your sin will find you out.” Why was this statement made to begin with? Originally, it was a warning to the Israeelites; and it is still one for us today. Israel was at the threshold of entering the Promised Land, and two of the twelve tribes that made up this Nation wanted to stop short of crossing over the Jordan River into the Land. They liked the land east of the Jordan and were comfortable staying there. But God had commanded the entire Nation to enter the Promised Land together to fight whatever battles were needed to possess it. Moses told these two tribes they had to go and fight. They agreed to fulfill their commitment to the Lord and to the Nation. As a warning Moses said, “See to it that you do, but if you don’t, be sure your sin will find you out.”

In that statement we learn some things about the dark side that ought to give us caution before we ever decide to enter it. First, the dark side of sin will control you. We have a choice to enter or not enter the darkness of sin. But once we do, sin becomes our master. Second, the dark side of sin will corrupt you. It is impossible to sin and not be corrupted by it. Lastly, the dark side of sin will condemn you. It is impossible to get away with sin. Somehow, some way, it will find you out…either in this life, or the one to come.

Dear Lord, I don't want to hide my sin and stay in the darkness anymore. Please forgive me for any sins I've been trying to hide. Give me the strength I need to repent and help me to resist any further temptation I may face down the road. Thank you for the conviction and the guidance of your Holy Spirit in my life. Amen.