Any unconfessed sin we tolerate in our lives will have terrible consequences.  These hidden sins have destroyed the reputations of individuals, the legacy of a family, and, sadly, they mar the Lord’s reputation among His people and become a sad witness before the world. The exposure of sin is not some heavy-handed way God deals with our sin. It’s simply a by-product of us accepting any form of personal deception, allowing its influence to grow and take hold of our lives.

When Israel was conquering the land of promise, a portion of the land’s geography was assigned to each tribe. During that time, the tribes of Gad and Reuben approached Moses and asked whether they could have the land east of the Jordan River. The leaders of the tribes said, “The Lord has conquered this whole area for the community of Israel, and it is ideally suited for all our livestock. If we have found favor with you, please let us have this land as our property instead of giving us land across the Jordan River” (Numbers 32: 4-5).

The leaders said to Moses, “We simply want to build pens for our livestock and fortified towns for our wives and children. Then we will arm ourselves and lead our fellow Israelites into battle until we have brought them safely to their land. Meanwhile, our families will stay in the fortified towns we build here, so they will be safe from any attacks by the local people. We will not return to our homes until all the people of Israel have received their portions of land” (vs. 16-18). 

Moses responded to their request and agreed, “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” (vs. 23).

The leaders of Gad and Reuben agreed and replied, “All who are able to bear arms will cross over to fight for the Lord, just as you have said” (vs. 27).

Moses said if they disobeyed, their “sin will find you out.” That was an unnerving comment about how sin works. Satan desires to have us think we can get away with sin and continue to live a life of faith. That has never happened, nor will it ever happen. It is one of the deepest forms of deception. The Lord, in His love, reveals sin in His people. That revelation is an act of His justice. 

The Lord has covered all our sins with the death and resurrection of Jesus. He wants all things, even our hidden sins, to be covered by His love if we are willing to acknowledge its presence through confession and repentance. He does this by revealing the earliest and smallest of compromises we accept. If those early compromises are not processed with the Lord early on, they will lead us into greater expressions of our unconfessed sin. 

We should never be afraid of God exposing sin in our lives. Those sins have been covered by the sacrificial blood of Christ. That understanding empowers our faith and helps us to move forward with a new life of purity and integrity.