In the previous article in this series, we considered the day that the ark came to rest on the mountains of Ararat. The tops of the mountains became visible 73 days after the ark came to a rest (Gen 8: 5); 40 days later Noah decided to find out what the ground outside the ark was like (Gen 8: 6). So, he opened the window of the ark and released a raven out into the world (Gen 8: 6).
The raven left and never came back into the ark. The Septuagint renders Gen 8: 7 as “And he sent forth a raven; and it went forth and returned not until the water was dried from off the earth.” The raven found the outside world to its liking.
Noah also released a dove (Gen 8: 8). Verse 9 says that it “found no rest for the sole of her foot.” There was still water everywhere, so the dove returned back to the ark. As it returned, Noah reached forth his hand, took it, and brought it back inside (Gen 8: 9).
Noah sent the dove out again seven days later. It stayed out longer and returned to him in the evening. When it came back, it brought a sprig from an olive tree in its mouth (Gen 8: 11). So, Noah could tell that the waters were receding enough for life to return to the world. In fact, when he released the dove again seven days later, it did not return at all (Gen 8: 12).
A reasonable course of action
From a natural perspective, what Noah did by sending out those birds made a lot of sense. Ravens can survive in a pretty harsh environment. Remember that the ravens were alive and well during the famine in Israel in Elijah’s day. God used them to feed him: “And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the Lord God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word And the word of the Lord came unto him, saying, Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan…And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook” (1Kgs 17:1-6). Ravens feed on corpses, and there would have been plenty of those around after the Flood: “The eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it” (Prov 30:17). Noah probably figured that if any animal could survive outside of the ark, it would be the raven. So, when he released it, and the raven thrived, Noah knew that the world could support the hardiest forms of life.
But that did not mean that the outside world was suitable for other kinds of life. So, he released a dove to get a sense of whether more delicate creatures could survive. The dove is a gentle bird: “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves” (Matt 10:16). They also do not like filth. The Song of Solomon repeatedly equates being undefiled with being like a dove: “I sleep, but my heart waketh: it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night” (Song 5:2). So, Noah did not remove the ark’s covering until he knew that the dove could survive outside of the ark (cf. Gen 8: 12, 13).
Spiritual lessons
The way these animals are used in other contexts in Scripture suggests that there are probably spiritual lessons that can be learned by also viewing this section of the Bible as a series of parables. The raven has negative connotations. The word that God uses to describe the wanderings of the raven in Job 38 is also frequently used for committing sin (Job 38: 41). And the raven was an unclean bird under the Law (Leviticus 11: 13, 15). In Gen 8, the raven left the ark and never came back. It preferred the muck and grime of the world to the company of those inside the ark. Perhaps God is teaching that those who would rather spend time in the world than associate with those who have embraced the hope that He has offered are unclean in His sight.
The dove was a clean bird, and it was used in sacrifices under the Law (Lev 1: 14). When Christ emerged from his baptism, the Spirit of God descended on him like a dove (Matt 3: 16). And the dove is used throughout Song of Solomon to represent the redeemed who will comprise the Bride of Christ.1
The dove disliked the filth of the world outside of the ark. So, even though it left the ark, it returned because it found nothing better. And when Noah saw that it was coming back, he reached out and brought it inside. This vignette could be an illustration of God’s mercy and love. Just as in the parable of the prodigal son, the message could be that the Father is watching for the return of those who have left and have discovered that the outside world has nothing of value to offer. Indeed, not only is He looking out for their return, but as they approach, He reaches out to draw them back to the security and fellowship of salvation in Christ.
The dove was later released again. It was sent forth to find out about developments on the earth, and it returned in the evening with an olive sprig. Darkness tends to represent the times of the Gentiles in which we are now living in the symbolism of the Bible. The olive tree represents Israel (Hosea 14: 6). Perhaps, therefore, the dove returning to the ark in the evening with the olive sprig represents believers sharing news of signs related to Israel with one another as we await the developments that are coming on the earth. Regardless of whether or not what the dove did is intended to have that interpretation, however, we know that believers should encourage one another with reminders that change is coming on the earth.
And the dove’s return with the olive sprig was a portent of change. Noah removed the covering of the ark not long thereafter in anticipation of exiting the ark (Gen 8: 13).2
The first day of the first month
On the first day of the first month of the 601st year of his life, Noah removed the covering of the ark (Gen 8: 13). Under the religious calendar, that date is the first day of the seventh month. It was commemorated under the Law of Moses by the blowing of trumpets and the observation of a Sabbath: “Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation. Ye shall do no servile work therein: but ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord” (Lev 23:24-25). This date continues to be celebrated by Jewish people. It is known as Rosh Hannah. It is the start of a new year according to the Jewish secular calendar.
And the text makes it clear that Noah, his family, and the animals were embarking on a new start. The old, sinful world had been washed away. They were part of a new creation, as it were.
And they intended for the new creation to be founded on obedience to God, even when it meant having to sacrifice of themselves. After Noah removed the covering of the ark, he was able to see the outside world. Gen 8:13 states that he looked “and, behold, the face of the ground was dry.” But he did not leave the ark because God had not told him to do so.
At that point, Noah, his family, and all of the animals had been in the ark for nearly a year. They must have been itching to get out, and they could see dry land all around them. But they waited in the ark for 56 more days until God directed them to leave (cf. Gen 8: 15, 18).
God was not being cruel by keeping them in the ark during that time. It is often the case that what we perceive and what reality actually is are two different things. Although the ground appeared dry to Noah, God knew that the earth had not yet recovered enough to support them. The Hebrew word translated “dry” in verse 13 means “to be waste or desolate.” God did not want them to venture forth into a wasteland, so He caused them to wait. The Hebrew word used for “dried” in verse 14 means “to make dry.” Once the earth had reached that state, God told Noah that it was time for them to exit the ark.
This section of Scripture is a good reminder that we need to trust God and not our own instincts when it comes to making decisions. It also shows how important having the right perspective is. During the time in which the covering was off the ark but Noah was still kept inside of it, he could have complained that God was being harsh by letting him see the drying ground but not permitting him to walk around outside. Alternatively, he could have trusted that God was trying to keep him safe, and he could have been filled with joy at the prospect of his soon release, which was indicated by the changes he would have seen in the earth as the days passed. It was all a matter of perspective. Having the right perspective can make our lives more satisfying, and it can help us to be more pleasing to God. Noah’s actions demonstrated that he had the right perspective when he and his family exited the ark, as we will see in the next article in this series.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One