“But if you fail to do this, you will be sinning against the LORD; and you may be sure that your sin will find you out.” Num. 32:23.
We more easily identify with sins of commission than with sins of omission. Sometimes we even think that sins of omission are not serious, and we do not really need to do anything about them. How many times have we empathized with people in their circumstances and promised to pray for them but forgot to do that? How many times have we told people that we will call or visit them, and it is now three years or three months and we have not done so yet? Numbers 32 records the tribes of Gad, Reuben and half tribe of Manasseh making a promise to assist the other nine and a half tribes of Israel settle down in the Promised Land while they will inherit the land east of the Jordan. Moses made them take an oath that they will do exactly as they said they would. Moses clearly told them that if they did not follow through with their promise that will be a sin and without doubt their sin will be exposed and punished by God.
Could it be that some of our woes today are some kind of repercussion for sins of omission that we do not think much about? We may not know for sure but what we know is that God is Righteous, and He will certainly punish even sins of omission unless we repent of them. What sin(s) of omission do you need to settle with God and anyone else? Not doing that today will be a bad idea.
More Resources
Rev. Latimer Muwanguzi | “Sins of Omission in Leadership” (James 4:17, 1 Samuel 2:12-26)
Office Of The University Chaplain | Uganda Christian University.
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