Counting Noses on the Mediterranean Sea

Winter on the Mediterranean Sea is a dangerous place. Luke records the dilemma in Acts 27:9-44. It is already the middle of October. (Luke references the Day of Atonement. See Leviticus 16.) It is too late in the year to be on the sea safely, but people were in a hurry.

 
There were 276 people on board the ship. Someone must have counted noses. At the end of the danger, they counted noses again. “Everyone reached land in safety” (27:44).
 
The detail reminds me that I am reading an eyewitness account. Notice Luke's use of the word "we." I can be sure of this written source. 

Paul’s courage in the face of danger inspires me. He had seen the risen Savior.

Risen Lord Jesus, give me that kind of courage too.

Our God’s ability to save encourages me. He is in control... of our personal life, of our nation, of our world. 

Counting Noses in Nineveh 
 
In our Old Testament lesson (read Jonah here), we are again on the Mediterranean Sea in the midst of a storm. In contrast to Paul’s missionary spirit, Jonah is running away from his call. Nineveh was the capital of Assyria, the world power of that day, that used cruelty and terror to keep the subjugated nations in check. (Watch a 40 minute history of the city of Nineveh here.) Why should Jonah go there to preach repentance? The last think he wanted to do was save this powerful enemy nations.
 
The LORD counted noses in Nineveh. “120,000 people who cannot tell their right hand from their left” (Jonah 4:11). The LORD was concerned about each of them even though they were the enemies of God’s people.
 
However, the true missionary nature of the book of Jonah is revealed in the LORD’s care for an angry, frustrated Jonah.

Read Jonah and see the lengths to which the LORD will go to call Jonah to himself. Notice the four times God “provided” something for Jonah to rescue him… from the sea in chapter 1 and from his sin in chapter 4... big things like a big fish and small things like a plant and a worm and a wind. 
 
Yes, the LORD counts noses. 276 on the ship. 120,000 in Nineveh. Jonah’s sunburnt nose. Thankfully, he has counted my nose and yours too. He is willing to go to any length to save us. He has provided the sacrifice of his Son on the cross to rescue us.