‘So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah. Then they said to him, “Tell us on whose account this evil has come upon us.”’ (Jonah 1:7-8)
Jonah had run away from God, and once the captain had woken him he probably realized that this storm could have
something to do with his behavior. But he did not say anything until the crew cast lots and the lot fell on Jonah. Only when the crew pushed him to tell what was going on, he told them: “I am a Hebrew, and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.” He also confessed that he was fleeing from the presence of this mighty God, which of course made the crew “exceedingly afraid”.
It is ironic that a prophet of the Lord, whose task it was to call people to confession and repentance, kept quiet about his own sins. But God did not accept his stubborn behavior. His hand was heavy on Jonah. He used a storm, a crew, and even the casting of lots to bring Jonah to the point where he could no longer hide his sins.
Committing a sin is a serious problem. Persisting in sin is even worse. Jonah’s refusal to repent brought the whole crew
into serious danger. His stubbornness also prevented him from seeking forgiveness, and thus his relationship with the Lord remained unresolved.
All through the Bible, God calls people to confess their sins. If you are persisting in sin, please take this exhortation to heart! What sin or sins do you need to bring into the light?