The Gourd
Like all short stories there are always things we are not told and left to our imagination. Compare what Jonah ‘heard’ in 1:2 with what he ‘heard’ in 3:2. ‘Against wickedness’ has gone and he has to wait for further instructions. Imagination then raises other questions. Had Jonah perhaps misheard? Or heard but misunderstood? Was it a call from God or was it Jonah attributing to God some of his own ill feelings? It almost sounds as if he senses a call from God to go and do something which from the start could never work. (4:2).
Certainly this arrogant customer is both angry and miserable. Angry at the call, angry inside the fish, angry when he shouts at the people of Nineveh, angry with God for being generous, angry with his own success, and presumably angry with himself for ever getting involved. He knew all along what would happen. So he sits in a corner and sulks.
Temporary respite comes when, despite being the victim of Jonah’s wrath, the God who is generous with the people of Nineveh is equally generous to Jonah. He gives him the protection of the gourd. Jonah is delighted. It ministers to his self-centredness and seems to confirm his judgement that God is with him. But the satisfaction is temporary. Within 24 hours the gourd has gone, the heat is on and Jonah is back where he started.
By now even Jonah might have begun to ask questions and even take a look at himself. But no. For Jonah nothing has changed. How could his God, who had always had a special relationship with his people (and especially with Jonah), and whom they had loved and served for more years than they could count, suddenly show favour to a crew as dreadful as those people in Nineveh? It made no sense. Was everybody now on the same level? Were unbelievers to be treated as mercifully as the faithful? And if they were what message was this going to send out to all the other heathen, pagans and infidels? No. Jonah is still sure he is right. He would rather die than ask the question.