It was about time for the occupants of the ark to be able to disembark. This devotional reading looks at how Noah sent birds out to determine the status of the land.
Nuggets
- The first bird that Noah sent out was a raven, an unclean bird.
- We aren’t told how long Noah waited on the raven before he sent out the dove.
- The second dove sent out by Noah came back with an olive branch.
- Noah knew their time in the ark was about over when the third dove didn’t come back.
In the last devotion, we talked about God being the One that steered the ark to Mt. Ararat. Noah was perfectly fine with that.
Noah had to know that the time for the ark trip was coming to an end. Some may see Noah sending out the birds as an act of impatience. I don’t see it that way.
I don’t think God was upset that Noah was checking out the status of the drying operation. He didn’t put us on this earth to just sit around waiting on Him.
On the contrary. God has a role for us to plan in expanding His kingdom. He also expects us to be stewards of His creation.
Let's Put It into Context
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Devotions in the Creation’s Do-Over series
Raven
“After another forty days, Noah opened the window he had made in the boat and released a raven. The bird flew back and forth until the floodwaters on the earth had dried up” (Gen. 8: 6-7 NLT)
The first bird that Noah sent out was a raven, an unclean bird.
“These are the birds that are detestable to you. You must never eat them: the griffon vulture, the bearded vulture, the black vulture, the kite, falcons of all kinds, ravens of all kinds, the eagle owl, the short-eared owl, the seagull, hawks of all kinds, the little owl, the cormorant, the great owl, the barn owl, the desert owl, the Egyptian vulture, the stork, herons of all kinds, the hoopoe, and the bat” (Lev. 11: 13-19 emphasis added).
Why would Noah choose an unclean bird before he chose a clean one? Well, it was probably because, being unclean, it was more suited to what it would find.
Ravens are scavengers. There would have been a lot of dead things on which it would be able to feed. It could fly long distances, which would have been a good reason to send it as a scout.
Gray told us why a long-distance bird was needed. He wrote,
“Doubtless he would often look forth on the waste of waters. The rapid evaporation, etc., would very much intercept a distant view. Fogs and mists, etc. Hence to know the state of things beyond the reach of his vision he would send forth messengers.”
Resource
The raven would have been a great choice.
But then, the raven didn’t come back. It just kept flying back and forth until it found a spot to land. It could survive on its own.
That sounds familiar. “‘Where have you come from?’ the Lord asked Satan. Satan answered the Lord, ‘I have been patrolling the earth, watching everything that’s going on’” (Job. 1: 7 NLT).
Well, that is logical. The raven, being an unclean bird, was associated with death – aka sin.
Creation just had a redo, and sin still wasn’t gone from the world. In fact, something unclean was the first thing that got out of the ark.
And after 271 days if my math is right, (10th day of the 2nd month to the 11th day of the 11th month), sin still wanted to get away from God.
Gray made another great point. The raven would have been able to see the ark. It wasn’t this small boat.
Remember, by this time, the ark was parked on Mt. Ararat. It didn’t leave the area, stranding the raven.
That rules out the raven not being able to find it.
First Dove
"He also released a dove to see if the water had receded and it could find dry ground. But the dove could find no place to land because the water still covered the ground. So it returned to the boat, and Noah held out his hand and drew the dove back inside” (Gen. 8: 8-9 NLT)
Noah sent out the dove at the same time as the raven.
Yeah, Noah sort of got a report from the raven by his not coming back, but he really didn’t know much more than he did before. So, he also sent a more reliable messenger.
A dove was a clean bird. It could be used for the olah offering (the burnt offering) for those who could not afford a bull, sheep, or goat. “If you present a bird as a burnt offering to the Lord, choose either a turtledove or a young pigeon” (Lev. 1: 14 NLT).
In other words, the dove was accessible to everyone. That resonates with me since the Holy Spirit, Who has been depicted as a dove, is available to everyone. “One day when the crowds were being baptized, Jesus himself was baptized. As he was praying, the heavens opened, and the Holy Spirit, in bodily form, descended on him like a dove. And a voice from heaven said, “You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy” (Lk. 3: 21-22 NLT).
I can see the dove instinctively flying away from the ark. Prior to this trip, it probably had not been a tamed bird.
But the dove came back. Maybe it had developed a relationship with Noah over its time in the ark. It knew who had been feeding it.
Maybe God was guiding it to accomplish His plan. We remember Balaam and his donkey (Num. 22: 21-39). God used animals.
Whatever, the dove came back.
This poor little guy flew around for a while but didn’t find a landing spot. So, it came back – back to God in the ark. With God is the only place we find peace.
Look at the reception the dove got. Noah reached out and lovingly pulled it back in.
No, I don’t think Noah had made the ark a prison. True, the wild animals may have been normally comfortable with the arrangement, but I am sure that God gave them His peace.
Second Dove
"After waiting another seven days, Noah released the dove again. This time the dove returned to him in the evening with a fresh olive leaf in its beak. Then Noah knew that the floodwaters were almost gone” (Gen. 8: 10-11 NLT)
The second dove sent out by Noah came back with an olive branch.
The olive branch brought back by the second dove Noah sent out was very important. It meant that things were growing again in the earth. If the plants could grow, it would soon be inhabitable by the humans.
Olive trees also have a spiritual meaning. They are symbolic of peace and forgiveness.
- “Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do” (Ps. 1: 1-3 NLT).
- “But I am like an olive tree, thriving in the house of God. I will always trust in God’s unfailing love” (Ps. 52: 8 NLT).
- “But some of these branches from Abraham’s tree — some of the people of Israel — have been broken off. And you Gentiles, who were branches from a wild olive tree, have been grafted in. So now you also receive the blessing God has promised Abraham and his children, sharing in the rich nourishment from the root of God’s special olive tree” (Rom. 11: 17 NLT).
That is just talking about the olive trees. The olives themselves are significant when made into olive oil.
- “Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Collect choice spices — 12 1⁄2 pounds of pure myrrh, 6 1⁄4 pounds of fragrant cinnamon, 6 1⁄4 pounds of fragrant calamus, and 12 1⁄2 pounds of cassia — as measured by the weight of the sanctuary shekel. Also get one gallon of olive oil. Like a skilled incense maker, blend these ingredients to make a holy anointing oil. Use this sacred oil to anoint the Tabernacle, the Ark of the Covenant, the table and all its utensils, the lampstand and all its accessories, the incense altar, the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, and the washbasin with its stand. Consecrate them to make them absolutely holy. After this, whatever touches them will also become holy” (Ex. 30: 22-25 NLT).
- “Command the people of Israel to bring you pure oil of pressed olives for the light, to keep the lamps burning continually” (Lev. 24: 2 NLT).
- “You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings” (Ps. 23: 5 NLT).
- “Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord” (Jas. 5: 14 NLT).
- “And they cast out many demons and healed many sick people, anointing them with olive oil” (Mk. 6: 13 NLT).
So, the fact that the dove – in which the Holy Spirit has been known to take bodily form – is offering Noah and his family peace, forgiveness, and blessings.
Why was Noah offered peace, forgiveness, and blessing? He walked with God. He was faithful and obedient.
God will use what we may think is common and ordinary for His holy purposes.
Third Dove
"He waited another seven days and then released the dove again. This time it did not come back” (Gen. 8: 12 NLT)
Noah knew their time in the ark was about over when the third dove didn’t come back.
The third dove was the charm. It didn’t come back, so Noah knew the earth was inhabitable again.
Noah just had to wait for God’s directions.
Making the Connections #1
Yeah, Noah opened the window and let the birds out. He wasn’t impatient to get out of the ark.
Noah was content in whatever situation in which God Him. “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength” (Phil. 4: 11-13 NLT).
I can see Noah saying the same thing. He had just gone through a harrowing experience.
We never once see any talk back – not like Moses did. All we see is faith and obedience.
Everyone is going to have their own harrowing experience. Exell agreed and told us why. He wrote, “That when God does place men in unwelcome positions, it is that their own moral welfare may be enhanced.”
Resource
Yes, the trials are hard. But God is always with us. He always has a purpose for the trials – the core of which is to strengthen our faith and patience.
Making the Connections #2
We should learn from the doves. Cuyler told us how. Look what he said first.
Cuyler wrote, “God has designed but one resting place for the soul, and that is the restoration of peace between it and Himself. On Jesus’ breast we may lay our weary heads.”
Resource
- We won’t be able to find rest until we come back to God.
- We need to come back to God with a repentant soul, not making excuses or deflecting our guilt.
- Jesus is the only way to gain salvation.
How Do We Apply This?
- Lean on God’s understanding, not our own.
- Use the talents that God has given us.
- Always follow where God leads.
- Wait patiently on God to provide answers to prayers.
Resources
Father God. We want to have the faith and obedience of Noah. We want to have his patience and contentment, even in difficult trials. Help us to follow his example. Amen.
What do you think?
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