Jonah 1:12Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

In their fear of the sea, which was relentlessly violent against them, they were equally terrified of the God of Israel; they were aware of His might and majesty, despite being outsiders. When the prophet identified himself as God's servant, they found themselves bewildered and unsure; they were too afraid to act against him, fearing the judgment of the Almighty. However, the sea continued to rage against them as fiercely as ever, prompting their distress for their own safety. Consequently, they requested guidance on how to calm the storm and avoid the peril of death.

And he instructed them to take him and throw him into the sea, promising that the waters would calm for them, for he understood that this fierce storm had come upon them because of him. Jonah recognized the tempest as seeking him out, endangering their vessel in an effort to strike him down. He was aware that his demise could lead to their salvation: "I know," he affirmed, "that for my sake this great storm has arisen." He was not oblivious to the fact that the chaotic forces of nature were disturbed, provoked to rage by his actions. The very chaos of the elements forced them toward casting him into the depths. If he were to bear the entire fury of the storm, solace would return to them.

Despite hearing these words, the sailors did not immediately obey the command; instead, they hesitated, hoping the peril would lessen. With the aid of their oars, they attempted to steer their vessel to safety. However, the tumultuous waves thwarted their efforts. Initially, they sought forgiveness in their prayers, but ultimately, they surrendered Jonah to the depths of the sea. For they prayed: "Lord, let not the soul perish for the sake of this man, and let not the blood of the righteous be upon us: for thou, Lord, as thou hast willed, hast done."

In a mysterious manner, just as Jonah willingly descended into the depths of the sea, our Lord, out of boundless love for humanity, embraced the chalice of suffering.

At last, Jonah was cast into the ocean to calm its fury. Prior to this, he acknowledged his transgressions before all: "I know that this great tempest has come upon you because of me; therefore, take me up and throw me into the sea, and it will be calm." O wondrous Jonah! You were a seeker of truth, openly confessing to the sailors: "Understand that this dreadful storm, which has stirred up colossal waves upon the waters, and all the woes resulting from it, arise solely from my own defiance of God's will. The Lord commanded me to go to Nineveh, yet I chose not to heed that call but to flee to Tarshish."

Jonah, recognizing his deserving of punishment, deliberately selects the fate that aligns with his transgressions. In an attempt to evade God's presence, he believed he could escape divine wrath by taking to the sea, aspiring to reach a far-off land where he could settle down and exist peacefully. However, he soon realized that his aspirations remained unfulfilled, and he found himself wishing that the ocean, which he had sought for refuge, would transform into his grave. Yet, while he was stringent with himself, he showed great compassion for those around him. Convinced that he alone merited God's anger, he did not wish for his fellow sailors to face suffering due to his actions. He assured them that if he were thrown into the sea, the Lord would show mercy on his sacrifice, and the raging waters would calm.