The answer is: Cast lots

Jonah 1:7 - An ancient method to supposedly find out the mind of a god - in this case the true God directed the lot to fall upon Jonah.

In the story of Jonah, we witness the plot twist of fishing-sized irony.More than just a fierce wind, this storm unraveled the ill-fated path Jonah took — away from God rather than toward Him. When the sailors cast lots to determine who was responsible for bringing this chaos upon them, they engaged in a time-honored tradition, something familiar to both Hebrew and ancient Near Eastern cultures.

Casting lots was akin to an ancient version of flipping a coin or rolling dice. Sailors often resorted to this practice when seeking divine insight, displaying a fascinating blend of superstition and faith. It's interesting to find that through this gamble, the lot fell on Jonah, almost as if fate—or a higher power—had a sense of humor. Picture this for a moment: these mariners, who likely worshipped various sea gods, find themselves unexpectedly entrusting their fate to an errant prophet.

This moment draws parallels elsewhere in Scripture as well. For instance, Proverbs 16:33 speaks to the belief that though lots may appear random, it's ultimately in God’s hands. Through this simple act, the crew recognized Jonah as not just their problem, but also as someone holding the key to their salvation amid the storm. Wouldn't you agree that there’s something poignantly poetic about both encountering the truth and ushering in mercy through an unexpected source?