The captain of the boat found Jonah sleeping below the ship and woke him up, "How can you sleep at a time like this?" he shouted. "Get up and pray to your god! Maybe he will pay attention to us and spare our lives." Then the sailors said to each other, "Come, let us cast lots to find out who is responsible for this calamity." They cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah (Jonah 1:6-7). Jonah was spiritually depleted at this time because he was in rebellion against God. He was supposed to be the one who would pray to the true and living God to save their lives in this desperate situation, but the sailors who worshipped false gods initiated the prayer and encouraged Jonah to pray. Jonah was supposed to lead the sailors to the true and living God but failed. No matter how we know God, if we do not obey Him, we will not be able to walk in our faith in Him.
When the sailors decided to cast lots to find out who was the culprit of this calamity, the lot fell on Jonah. Casting lots is like turning a bottle around a group of people, and whoever the bottle point to after it stops turning is the one who is chosen. God used this to show the sailors that Jonah was the reason for the storms. God just exposed Jonah of his sin. Jonah tried to escape, but he was found. He tried to hide, but he was exposed. We may hide our sins from others, but God knows everything we have done. The more we try to hide our sins, the more we will be miserable. The only way out of our miserable situation is to confess our sins to him and repent. A minister lived a double life by having an affair with one of the church's members. He tried to hide his sin until God exposed him. He eventually stepped down as a minister and had a long road to restore his relationship with his wife and children.
Running away from God is not worth it. No matter how exciting it is initially, any sin only leads to despair and sorrow. It destroys any good in us, which is why God hates sin. Let us not harden our hearts with any sin, but let us be repentant of our sins.
Ask yourself these questions for application: (Think through carefully and meditate on the questions while answering them, and let the Spirit of God speak to you) Can I hide my sin from God? Can sin bring me peace and good life? What is the only way to deal with my sins?
Write down all the worries you face today and lift them up to God.
Prayer:
Father in Heaven, I acknowledge that I cannot hide my sins from you. You are aware of anything that I have done. Please forgive me of my sins and continue to change my heart to walk in your ways. Please help me not give in to any temptation I face today. Please give me the courage and strength to choose your ways. In your name Lord Jesus, I pray. Amen.