But God endures Jonah the disobedient and the obstinate

[Mary Naeem]

Pope Shenouda III


Jonah

But God endures Jonah the disobedient and the obstinate. He endures him until He reforms him, convinces him and makes him understand the right way, raises him a great prophet and makes him a symbol of His death and resurrection, and names a holy Book after his name, and designates for him an everlasting commemoration in His Church, and antiphons and hymns to venerate him. This is God's work with His children. Blessed be His name.
God's long-suffering is also manifested in the respite of forty days which He gave to Nineveh. He did not take them by their wickedness abruptly but He gave them a chance to repent.
Another lesson we take from the Book of Jonah is that God is for all.