Sign of Jonah

The sign of Jonah is certainly the death-resurrection of Jonah 2, as well as the turning to the Gentiles of Jonah 3. But the sign of Jonah also means the setting of a question mark above the future history of Israel. At the end of Jonah, Yahweh asks why he should not be merciful to the great city, but there is no response from Jonah. The hardening of the Israelite Jonah means riches for the world; but Jonah leaves unanswered the question of whether Israel too will be saved. Romans 9-11 is Paul’s completion of the sign of Jonah.