Numbers 32:23 But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out. I. GOD CERTAINLY SHOWS HIS PURPOSE TO PUNISH SIN BY THE WAY HE CAUSES WOE TO COME ON SOME SINNERS HERE. The drunkard, the glutton, and the cheat, the liar and the lewd, are nut the only examples. Most frauds are exposed. Nearly all murders are brought to light. Men may plot very secretly, and think their crimes are hid. But Providence calls on stones and beams of timber, on tracks and pieces of paper, to be witnesses of the crime. Then all that class of sins which are not punishable by human laws, God often punishes with a loss of respect, esteem, or confidence. II. MEN MIGHT BE SURE THAT THEIR SIN WILL FIND THEM OUT BY THE SORE JUDGMENTS WHICH GOD SOMETIMES SENDS ON MEN FOR THEIR SINS. On this matter we should exercise candour, caution, and charity, and not call that an angry judgment which is but a dark doing of love. Still there are on earth sore and marked judgments. Look at the history of Achan, of Korah, &c. Of thirty Roman emperors, proconsuls, and high officials, who distinguished themselves by their zeal and rage against the early Christians, it is recorded that one became speedily deranged after an act of great cruelty; one was slain by his own son; one became blind; the eyes of one started out of his head; one was drowned; one was strangled; one died in a miserable captivity; one fell dead in a manner that will not bear to be told; one died of so loathsome a disease that several of his physicians were put to death, because they could not abide the stench that filled his room; two committed suicide; a third attempted it, but had to call for help to finish the bloody work; five were assassinated by their own servants or people; five others died the most horrible deaths, having many and strange diseases; and eight were killed in battle, or after being taken prisoners. Men have more to do with sin than to commit it. III. ONE MAY ESCAPE DETECTION AND STRANGE JUDGMENTS, AND STILL HIS SINS MAY FIND HIM OUT IN THE FEARS, AND CLAMOURS, AND REMORSE OF CONSCIENCE. Remorse is remorseless. Like fire, it burns all around it. No man can protect himself against his sins flashing him in the face at any moment. The Bible, preaching, singing, praying, a marriage, a trial in court, the sight of the man he has injured, or one that looks like him, or anything may arouse his conscience into fury at the most inconvenient time. IV. BUT EVEN IF ONE ESCAPE ALL THESE THINGS, YET IF HE DIES UNPARDONED HIS SINS WILL FIND HIM OUT IN THE NEXT WORLD (Luke 12:2; 1 Timothy 5:24; Ecclesiastes 10:20). Why do not men admit the force of these truths, and act accordingly? The reasons are very clear. 1. Some think their sins will not find them out because God has not yet called them to account (Ecclesiastes 8:11). Such men forget that with the Lord one day is "as a thousand years," &c. (2 Peter 3:8-10). 2. In this world sinners often forget their sins, and think God has also forgotten them (Psalm 10:11). But God forgets nothing. 3. Some think their sin will not find them out because they doubt whether God is holy and just, and whether He takes notice of human actions (Psalm 94:5-7). But that is practical atheism (Proverbs 15:3; Ecclesiastes 12:14). 4. Some think their sin will not find them out because God is merciful. But mercy rejected can save no man. All the cooling fountains can do no good to him who does not drink of them. Oh, sinner, "be sure your sin will find you out." You may now live in ease and in error. You may now harden your heart in pride. But you must meet your sins at God's tribunal. Remember that. Oh! be wise — be wise unto salvation. (W. S. Plumer, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out. |
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