The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Numbers 32:20-23, “So Moses said to them, ‘If you will do this, if you will arm yourselves before the LORD for the war,

21 and all of you armed men cross over the Jordan before the LORD until He has driven His enemies out from before Him,

22 and the land is subdued before the LORD, then afterward you shall return and be free of obligation toward the LORD and toward Israel, and this land shall be yours for a possession before the LORD.

23 But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the LORD, and be sure your sin will find you out.’”

Years ago, there was a radio show entitled “Truth or Consequences.” The host would interview a contestant and then ask him a question. If he answered it correctly (which contestants rarely did), he got a prize. But if he answered it incorrectly, there was a consequence –and the consequences were hilariously funny. The show ran for years, and was the first radio quiz program that made it to television.

The real truth is that there are consequences to what we do. The verses above need little explanation. Moses had led Israel’s army to the Jordan river. There were occupants across the river. But the LORD had given the land to the Israelites, and it was time for them to cross the Jordan and drive out the unlawful occupants.

The Israelites were instructed as to what they were to do. Being obedient to the LORD’s command would mean victory and possession of the land. Failure to obey the LORD’s directive would mean sin “against the LORD.” What’s more, Moses said, “…be sure your sin will find you out.” That’s another way of saying, If you fail to obey, there will be consequences to pay.

That forewarning is still operative today. Parents fail to train their children in the LORD, and we encounter their ultimate rage in human society. Children fail to obey their parents, and they suffer for disobedience. Men and women take vows of marriage and then disobey them. The results (make that consequences!) are visible in their lives and work against the

welfare of their children. On and on it goes. You can’t do wrong and get by! Why? Because the sins one commits affect all who are connected with him. Even the family name can become smirched, so that the innocent are viewed as guilty in the eyes of the whole community.

Watch what you do! Be careful what you think about! Weigh the consequences of all acts. If you do, you’ll be surprised how few of them you will indulge in. Tell the Truth! Live the Truth! Share the Truth! It’s the Truth that will set you free! (Jn 8:32).

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”