Had not Jacob previously repented of his sin in obtaining the birthright by fraud, God could not have heard his prayer and mercifully preserved his life. So in the time of trouble, if the people of God had unconfessed sins to appear before them while tortured with fear and anguish, they would be overwhelmed; despair would cut off their faith, and they could not have confidence to plead with God for deliverance. But while they have a deep sense of their unworthiness, they will have no concealed wrongs to reveal. Their sins will have been blotted out by the atoning blood of Christ, and they cannot bring them to remembrance.

Havde Jakob ikke forinden angret den synd, han begik, da han skaffede sig førstefødselsretten ved bedrageri, kunne Gud ikke have hørt hans bøn og nådigt reddet hans liv. På samme måde ville Guds folk blive overvundet i trængselstiden, hvis de endnu ikke havde bekendt deres synder, når de pines af frygt og ængstelse. Da ville fortvivlelse udslukke deres tro, og de ville ikke med fuld tillid kunne bede Gud om befrielse. Men på den tid, hvor de dybt føler deres uværdighed, gemmer de ikke på synder, som ikke er tilgivet. Deres synder er udslettet med Kristi forsonende blod, og de vil ikke huske dem mere.