Shortly before the Israelites were to cross the Jordan to conquer the promised land, the sons of Rueben and Gad came to Moses and requested that they be allowed to take possession of the land east of the Jordan rather than the land across the river where the rest of their brethren were going (Numbers 32:1-5). At first Moses objected, accusing these tribes of abandoning and discouraging their brethren as they were about to go to war with the inhabitants of Canaan (Numbers 32:6-7). But the sons of Rueben and Gad assured Moses that they would first build cities for their families and sheepfolds for their livestock, then they would cross over and fight with their brethren, not returning to their homes until the other tribes took possession of the land (Numbers 32:16-19).
Moses agreed to this proposition. If the men would cross the Jordan with their brethren, fight with them, then after their victory return to their homes, they could have the land east of the Jordan as their inheritance (Numbers 32:20-22). But Moses warned them against failing to carry out what they had promised to do: “But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the Lord, and be sure your sin will find you out” (Numbers 32:23).
These men needed to be sure they understood the seriousness of both their words and their actions, and the consequences of their failure. We need to learn these lessons today as well.
Unfulfilled Promises Mean Nothing
It was good that the men of Rueben and Gad promised to help their brethren conquer the land of Canaan. But if they failed to see that task through until the end, they would have let down their brethren. Whether they fully intended to complete their work or this was just an empty promise to begin with would not matter. If the task was not completed, their promise would mean nothing.
The same is true of our service to Christ. We may make the commitment to follow Christ and do His will; but if we fail to follow through, then regardless of our initial motive, our promise means nothing. Jesus told a parable of two sons who were instructed by their father to “go work today in the vineyard” (Matthew 21:28-30). The first son said he would not go, but later repented and went. The second son promised to go, but then did not. Jesus then asked the question, “Which of the two did the will of his father?” The chief priests and elders who came to Him correctly answered, “The first” (Matthew 21:31). The second son, despite his promise, simply did not do his father’s will. It is not enough for us to merely promise to follow Christ. As James wrote, “Prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves” (James 1:22).
We Will Answer for Our Sin
As the battles would rage and the mission of conquest would draw closer to completion, the men of Rueben and Gad could have reasoned to themselves that they had done enough and could return to their homes unnoticed by their brethren. But Moses strictly warned them that if they returned early, they were not only sinning against their brethren, but against God. He then said, “Be sure your sin will find you out” (Numbers 32:23).
Many are often deceived into thinking that their sins – or at least certain sins – have no real consequences. From the beginning, Satan has tried to convince mankind that they can sin without penalty. He told Eve in the garden, “You surely will not die” (Genesis 3:4). That lie continues to be told today. Yet the Bible teaches us, “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23) and that “we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad” (2 Corinthians 5:10). Lest we think we can somehow hide our sin from God, remember the words of the Hebrew writer: “And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do” (Hebrews 4:13).
Making a commitment to follow and serve Christ is great. But failing to follow through on that promise will lead to spiritual ruin. Remember the lesson from Moses to the sons of Rueben and Gad as it applies to us today. Commit to following Christ, then “be faithful until death” (Revelation 2:10).
