"So they picked up Jonah, threw him into the sea, and the sea stopped its raging.  Then the men feared the Lord greatly, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows.  And the Lord appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the stomach of the fish three days and three nights."

This could be the end of the story.  The sailors take he who is causing trouble and cast him into the ocean.  They rid themselves of the sinner.  They make vows to God:  We promise to follow You.  We promise to fear You.  Now that this trouble maker, Jonah, is out of our lives we can focus.

Jonah is tossed into the ocean - his rebellion against God ceased. 

So why does God rescue Jonah from death?

Go back to the second verse in the chapter and you remember that God has a plan. 

Are you ready for this?

God will be patient with Jonah through Jonah's disobedience because God understands the value of an obedient man.

This begs the question:  Why is God patient with me?