How do you feel about the story of the Gourd in the Book of Jonah?

Question

"And the LORD GOD prepared a gourd, and made it come up over Jonah, that it might be a shadow over his head, to deliver him from his grief. So Jonah was exceeding glad of the gourd.

"But God prepared a worm when the morning rose the next day, and it smote the gourd that it withered.

"And it came to pass, when the sun did arise, that God prepared a vehement east wind; and the sun beat upon the head of Jonah, that he fainted, and wished himself to die, and said, It is better for me to die than to live.

"And God said to Jonah, Doest thou well to be angry for the gourd?
And he said, I do well to be angry, even unto death.

"Then said the LORD, thou hast had pity on the gourd, for which thou hast not labored, neither madest it grow; which came up in a night, and perished in a night:

"And should I not spare Ninevah, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle?" Jonah 3

Answer 1

Well, I feel that God was very gracious to provide some shade for Jonah while he pouted about His decision not to destroy Ninevah. And I appreciate how He works with us with such lovingkindness and tender mercy to show us the error of our ways and attitudes when we need it.

Answer 2

Hi Brigid:
It was actually a bottle-gourd PLANT - not a gourd. Jehovah had this vine miraculously grow over him for shade and protection and then later wither and die.
God used this as an object lesson for Jonah, who was having no pity for the Ninevites - even though they were repentful. Yet he felt sorry for a gourd vine! Do you see the irony here?
Jehovah wanted Jonah to see this irony, so he told him what he just did, so he could get the point of what should be priority.

Answer 3

This is a story of Jonah's anger and God's mercy.Jonah did not wish the Lord to forgive the Ninevites because of his narrowly nationalistic vindictiveness.Jonah is selfish in bemoaning his personal loss of a shady gourd plant without any concern over the threat of loss of life to the Ninevites through the destruction of their city.If God in his kindness provided the plant for his prophet without the latter's effort or merit,how much more is He disposed to show love and mercy towards all men,Jew and Gentile,when they repent of their sins and implore His pardon! God's providence is also shown here to extend even to animals.(NAB footnotes) . I feel that this book foreshadows the mission of the Christ whose mission of redemption is for all,both Jew and Gentile.

Answer 4

It's a good principle for all. We sometime care more about our comfort than those who are perishing. That was the moral of the story, and a good one at that.

Answer 5

Pretty good arguement.

Answer 6

That's a really funny story.