In the Bible, particularly in the Book of Jonah, sailors often express beliefs about storms and their causes in the context of divine intervention. In Jonah 1, when a great storm arises while Jonah is trying to flee from God, the sailors become terrified and start to cry out to their gods for help. This indicates their belief that storms are manifestations of divine displeasure or as a response to someone's actions.
The sailors also cast lots to determine who is responsible for the calamity, which reflects their belief in fate or divine will playing a role in the events they are experiencing. When the lot falls on Jonah, they question him about his identity and the reason for the storm, demonstrating their belief that individual actions can influence larger cosmic events.
In summary, the sailors’ actions—crying out to their gods, casting lots, and seeking answers—demonstrated their belief that storms are often a result of divine wrath or intervention, reflecting their understanding of the spiritual realm influencing their lives.