Noah knew he and his family and the animals would be saved; God had promised this. Yet as to when, he did not know. The outcome was sure; the timeframe was not. Every day, is this it? No. Still waiting. Christians are called to wait as well. We know that the future will be bright, new heavens and a new earth, no more mourning or crying or pain anymore. An eternity lived with our loving Lord Jesus. Yet we are not there yet. 

The flood narrative in Genesis 6-8 is a long passage. Why? What does the writer devote the most time to? It is the time on the ark itself waiting for the flood to rise and then the waters to come down.

From 8:6 we have that odd section when Noah sends out some birds to find out information. First he sends a raven, which flies around but doesn’t come back.

Then a dove, which came back after not finding land. The same dove later found an olive branch and came back, before not coming back the third time. What is happening with the birds? The way the ark is built means Noah cannot see out himself. He is sending scouts, finding information about what the world is now like. Is this a lack of trust in God? No. Even when the dove does not return, Noah does not leave. He waits for God to tell him to leave. The birds are Noah trying to understand what is happening. He has no doubt that God will bring them out in his time; he is judging how long that time is likely to be.

Read More