4.
Jonah was confronted by the angry and worried Captain of the ship and was rebuked for his actions under such dire circumstances. The shipmaster wanted to be certain that each and every man was calling on his God, whoever and whatever that might be and that certainly included Jonah. The Captain was in such desperate straits that he was ready to believe in any God, which ever one worked and could save his ship and their lives. He was like the person who will support any religious cause, with the hope that somehow they will have given to the right God, and when it comes to eternal life, their alms will be remembered. Sorry, it does not work that way. Jonah 1:6 The shipmaster does not recognize any difference between the gods of the sailors and the God of Jonah. The Hebrew word used for both is the same, i.e. elohiym. The fact that the God of Jonah is capitalized would acknowledge the true God, if the Captain used it in that manner.
The suspicious crew, with the common superstition of that day, had come to the idea that someone on the ship was indeed responsible for their horrible circumstances. Whoever it was, must have committed some terrible and heinous crime. So the decision was made to cast lots as a way of determining who the guilty party might be. Jonah, of course, was chosen. For certain this was one occasion where the hand of the Lord was involved in the revelation of the individual who was the cause of their fearful situation. Jonah 1:7.
Having settled on Jonah as the source of their problem, they began the inquisition. Their very first question was to get a confession from Jonah as to the cause of the tremendous storm. Jonah 1:8 His confession of guilt and cause is found in verse 12. He acknowledged that the great tempest was because of him. However, prior to his confession, he stalled and answered their other questions first. He proclaimed himself to be a Hebrew. One who feared, reverenced the LORD. That was a religious misstatement. Were it true the story of Jonah would not exist. His running from the LORD showed his lack of reverence. He did differentiate between their gods and the God of creation, the God of heaven. The Master of the seas and the Creator of the same and the dry land. Jonah 1:9.
His testimony created great fear in the hearts of these seasoned sailors. Why, O, why have you done such a thing? Their lives were placed in jeopardy by the rebellious actions of this man who was called to be a prophet of the Most High. Why was he running? Perhaps he had a personal grudge against the people of Nineveh. It could well have been racial. As a prophet in Israel he may have received more attention and praise among his own. Whatever his cause. He was out of step with the LORD.