Jonah 1:11Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

As they trembled before the sea, which fiercely opposed them, their fear was equally directed towards the God of Israel; they were aware of His might and majesty, despite being outsiders. When the prophet identified himself as a servant of the Lord, uncertainty clouded their minds, as they were reluctant to take a life, fearing the anger of the Sovereign God. Yet, with the sea remaining just as tumultuous as before, their anxiety for their own well-being grew. Consequently, they implored him to advise them on how to calm the storm and escape the imminent threat of death. What did the prophet do?

And they inquired of him, "What should we do to you so that the sea will calm for us?" For the waters were rising fiercely. They asked, "Is it because of you that the winds, the waves, and the depths have stirred? You have identified the source of our peril; now reveal the solution. Since the sea threatens us, we perceive that we are under judgment for having taken you in. If our error lies in having welcomed you, how can we avert the Lord's wrath? ‘What shall we do to you?’ Is death the answer? Yet you honor the Lord. Should we save you? But you are fleeing from God. Our responsibility is to place ourselves at your service; you alone can direct us on how to quell the sea, which now testifies to the anger of the Creator through its turmoil.

The tempest intensified further following the drawing of lots. Finally, the esteemed Prophet, aware of God's anger, willingly accepts his fate of death. For he declares:

Are you not aware that the voice of God commands both the ocean and the heavens? Yet, one who attempts to escape from God does so fruitlessly, for the Creator reigns over all existence, and those without God stand in opposition to creation. Even nature responds to the adversary of the All-Powerful, apprehensively rejecting any role in his wrongdoing; it will not allow the one who flees to escape unscathed, instead confronting him with tempests and gales.

The associates who interrogated Jonah, firmly believing that there was no alternative to placate God, who was displeased with his transgressions, determined to leave the decision of punishment to Jonah. They allowed him to choose his fate, empowering him to designate his own death as a sacrificial offering to secure the salvation of all those facing peril due to the sin of one. Everyone was at risk of drowning, as the sea was becoming not only calm but increasingly turbulent.