Unconfessed Sin | Jonah 1:10

As we continue our exploration of Jonah chapter 1, we encounter a stark illustration of how unconfessed sin can weigh us down and impact those around us. Today, we'll examine the heavy burden Jonah carried and the freedom that comes with confession.

Jonah 1:10
"Then the men were exceedingly afraid and said to him, 'What is this that you have done!' For the men knew that he was fleeing from the presence of the Lord, because he had told them."

Imagine the scene: Jonah, confronted by terrified sailors, finally admits he's running from God. The weight of his unconfessed sin has not only endangered his own life but now threatens everyone on the ship.

Jonah's silence up to this point is deafening. He doesn't volunteer the information; he has to be cornered into confessing. This is the nature of unconfessed sin - it makes us hide, it seals our lips, it blinds us to the needs of others.

Notice the sailors' reaction: "What is this that you have done!" They're incredulous. How could someone flee from a God powerful enough to control the seas? Jonah's actions don't make sense to them, just as our sin often doesn't make rational sense when exposed to the light.

The irony is palpable. Jonah, a prophet of God, is being rebuked by pagan sailors. His unconfessed sin has not only compromised his witness but has actually turned him into a stumbling block for others.

But here's the hope: God uses even this situation to reveal Himself. Through Jonah's negative example, these sailors are coming to know the true God. As Psalm 76:10 says, "Surely the wrath of man shall praise you."

Stay dialed in,

Jonny Ardavanis