Jonah 1:9Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Once they had discerned by lot who was responsible for their misfortune, their inability to fully grasp the nature of Jonah's wrongdoing sparked an intriguing curiosity. As idolaters, they pressed him to disclose his profession, his homeland, and his nationality, hoping to ascertain which deity he had offended. Each sailor had his own specific god, distinct from the one true God, and they believed that by appeasing the god that was displeased due to Jonah, they might avoid the calamitous effects of the tempest. When the Prophet referred to himself as a servant of the Lord, the Creator of heaven and earth, and acknowledged his worship of Him, they quickly understood that he was fleeing from the presence of God. But how did they come to this realization?

He addressed them, saying, I am a Jew, and I hold reverence for the Lord God of heaven, the Creator of the sea and the dry land. In the Septuagint, he states, I am a servant of the Lord, honoring the God of heaven, who created both the sea and the dry land. He did not declare, "I am a Jew," as the distinction between the ten tribes and the two tribes bestowed this designation upon the people. Instead, "I am a Jew" signifies a passage, akin to Abraham, who could proclaim, "I am a sinner, and a foreigner like all my ancestors" (Psalms 38:13). Another psalm expresses, "I have traversed from nation to nation, and from one people to another" (Psalms 104:13), and Moses remarks, "I shall soon behold this great sight" (Exodus 3:3).

A truly remarkable prophet deserving of all honor! Even as he awaited his execution, he proclaimed the supreme power of the Almighty, addressing Him as the Creator and Sovereign of all. Since many people of that era worshipped false gods and were unaware of the true Creator, this blessed prophet was compelled to reveal Him to those who were ignorant. However, he also acknowledges the reason for his attempt to escape, admitting that, driven by irrationality, he believed he could evade the One whom he recognized as Lord and Creator, not just of the earth and sea, but also of the heavens.

Are you not aware that the voice of God commands both the ocean and the celestial bodies? Yet, one who turns away from God does so futilely, for the Creator encompasses all existence, and the unfaithful stands in opposition to creation itself. Even nature perceives the adversary of the Almighty; as though apprehensive of being complicit in his transgressions, she will not allow the escapee to elude justice—she will unleash her winds and tempests upon him.

When inquired, "Who is he?" Jonah responded, "I am a Hebrew, I revere the Lord, the God of heaven, who created both the sea and the dry land." Do you, Jonah, truly revere and honor God in such a manner? Why do you defy His will? Like Jonah, many claim, "I fear only God," yet simultaneously violate His commandments: "You shall not covet, you shall not take anything that belongs to your neighbor," and so forth. Beloved brethren, to profess "I fear God" while acting contrary to His divine directives is not genuine reverence but a dismissal of His sacred will—an act of rebellion against one’s Creator and Redeemer. Jonah’s own behavior illustrates this truth: his declaration of reverence did not calm the sea; rather, the tempest intensified relentlessly...

In this passage, Jonah's response is not completely revealed. Based on the subsequent verse, it can be inferred that Jonah not only acknowledged himself as a servant of the one true God, the Creator of both the sea and the land, the Sovereign Lord of heaven, but he also admitted his wrongdoing. He openly confessed that he had attempted to escape from the presence of the Lord, transgressing against Him by ignoring His command, and that he had failed to respect the authority of the One who holds power over all creation.