Even during the darkest days the child of God can look forward to a bright future, and so after this terrible judgment God had blessing in store for those inside the ark. The rain stopped, and the waters began to go down, until the tops of the mountains were seen.
Then Noah sent out a raven, and this unclean bird flew around and probably fed on the carcasses of those who had perished in the flood. It would remind us of our old sinful nature which feeds on what is unclean and evil. Even though the raven had been in the ark, its nature was not changed, and when let go, it went back to its old habits. Being in the company of true Christians does not change or improve man’s sinful heart. We need a new nature from God, and this is received when one is born again. The Lord Jesus said to Nicodemus, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:33Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. (John 3:3)).
The Dove Sent Out
The dove, which speaks to us of the new nature, was sent out next. Finding no rest for her feet, she returned to the ark. Nor is there any resting place for our new nature in this poor world, but we can find all we need in our “ark” which is Christ. After seven days, Noah sent the dove out again, and when she returned in the evening, she brought back an olive leaf, pulled from a living tree. The next time Noah let out the dove, it did not return, for new life was springing up out of the earth, and this the dove could enjoy. Dear young reader, do you enjoy the things of the Lord? If not, it is because you need to be born again.
Offering a Sacrifice
When the face of the ground was dry, God told Noah to go out of the ark, taking all the animals, birds, and creeping things with him. Noah was very thankful to the Lord for this wonderful deliverance, and so the very first thing he did was to build an altar and offer a sacrifice to the Lord. Like Abel, he acknowledged that the only way he could approach God was through the death of another. The Lord Jesus has delivered us from something more terrible than the flood of water. He has saved us from the lake of fire by His death for us, and we should thank Him over and over again for all that He has done. Many of those who love Him gather around His table each Lord’s Day to break the bread and drink the cup in remembrance of His death. He has asked us to do this, and we delight to show our thankfulness in this way.
God promised that He would not destroy every living thing again as He had done in the flood. It was because of Noah’s sacrifice that He made this promise, and it is because of the death of the Lord Jesus that God goes on patiently with this world now. When He does act in judgment again, there will be thousands upon thousands who will be delivered and brought into blessing, because of the work accomplished on Calvary’s cross. Can you say that you are “safe in Christ” from coming judgment?
Further Meditation
1. What was the first thing Noah did when he left the ark?
2. What bird is used in Mark 1 to symbolize the Spirit of God’s coming on the man Christ Jesus? Why?
3. You would probably find the article on the dove in the Concise Bible Dictionary by G. Morrish to be helpful in meditating on this subject. You would find the dictionary a big help in your study of God’s Word. You can find a copy online in the reference section of bibletruthlibrary.org.