Genesis 8:3-123And the waters returned from off the earth continually: and after the end of the hundred and fifty days the waters were abated. 4And the ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, upon the mountains of Ararat. 5And the waters decreased continually until the tenth month: in the tenth month, on the first day of the month, were the tops of the mountains seen. 6And it came to pass at the end of forty days, that Noah opened the window of the ark which he had made: 7And he sent forth a raven, which went forth to and fro, until the waters were dried up from off the earth. 8Also he sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters were abated from off the face of the ground; 9But the dove found no rest for the sole of her foot, and she returned unto him into the ark, for the waters were on the face of the whole earth: then he put forth his hand, and took her, and pulled her in unto him into the ark. 10And he stayed yet other seven days; and again he sent forth the dove out of the ark; 11And the dove came in to him in the evening; and, lo, in her mouth was an olive leaf plucked off: so Noah knew that the waters were abated from off the earth. 12And he stayed yet other seven days; and sent forth the dove; which returned not again unto him any more. (Genesis 8:3‑12)
THE DELUGE was over, but its effect remained and it was not until 150 days had passed that the water abated. Seventeen days later the ark came to rest on Mount Ararat. Does this not make us think of the place that will be enjoyed by those trusting in the blood of Jesus, who will be safely with Him a long time before God’s judgments on the wicked are over? Although not yet visible to Noah, the tops of the mountains soon began to appear.
Forty days after the ark came to rest on Mount Ararat, Noah opened the window and made an exploration of things by sending forth two birds —a raven and a dove. This reminds us of the Jewish aspect of the ark, for the Jews will indeed be looking for signs in their tribulation days—portents that will tell them the end of their trial is drawing near and encouragement to remain faithful yet a little longer. The raven—an unclean bird—found itself well satisfied for the waters were not yet fully withdrawn and there remained much rottenness and decay, suited to its unclean nature. This is a picture of the unsaved man, comfortable and right at home in the corruption of a ruined world.
But with the dove it was an entirely different matter. Clean by nature she “found no rest for the sole of her foot” in the judged scene all around, and so she returned to the ark. The dove is a type of that new nature which indwells every true believer in Christ. That new nature finds no satisfaction nor attraction in a world defiled and under judgment, but will ever return to Christ, the true Ark. In Him our souls will ever find sweetest rest and peace. May we who confess His name as our Saviour keep close to Him and avoid contamination in a polluted world.
Seven more days and the dove, sent forth again, returned with an olive leave in her mouth. Noah knew then that the waters were abated. What joy must have been Noah’s, knowing that God had already undertaken the restoration of life to a cleansed world. The olive leaf spoke prophetically of renewed life coming to Israel and looked forth to the restoration of God’s earthly people in the thousand years of peace that will follow the great tribulation.
The future happiness and testimony of Israel, of course, will not be restored until after a full accounting has been given to God by that nation and His judgment of their waywardness. The tribulation period to which we have previously referred, answers to the flood as it applies in type to Israel. Out of that tribulation will emerge a remnant, faithfully devoted to God and owning the Christ whom their people once rejected.
“And it shall come to pass, that like as I have watched over them, to pluck up, and to break down, and to throw down, and to destroy, and to afflict; so will I watch over them, to build, and to plant, saith the Lord... But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put My law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be My people.” Jeremiah 31:2828And it shall come to pass, that like as I have watched over them, to pluck up, and to break down, and to throw down, and to destroy, and to afflict; so will I watch over them, to build, and to plant, saith the Lord. (Jeremiah 31:28) and 33.
ML-11/22/1964