# 84 Testing the Waters

The Book of Genesis Day 84 Ge 8:6 So it came to pass, at the end of forty days, that Noah opened the window of the ark which he had made. 7 Then he sent out a raven, which kept going to and fro until the waters had dried up from the earth. 8 He also sent out from himself a dove, to see if the waters had receded from the face of the ground. 9 But the dove found no resting place for the sole of her foot, and she returned into the ark to him, for the waters were on the face of the whole earth. So he put out his hand and took her, and drew her into the ark to himself. 10 And he waited yet another seven days, and again he sent the dove out from the ark. 11 Then the dove came to him in the evening, and behold, a freshly plucked olive leaf was in her mouth; and Noah knew that the waters had receded from the earth. 12 So he waited yet another seven days and sent out the dove, which did not return again to him anymore. 13 And it came to pass in the six hundred and first year, in the first month, the first day of the month, that the waters were dried up from the earth; and Noah removed the covering of the ark and looked, and indeed the surface of the ground was dry. 14 And in the second month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, the earth was dried. 15 Then God spoke to Noah, saying, 16 "Go out of the ark, you and your wife, and your sons and your sons' wives with you. 17 "Bring out with you every living thing of all flesh that is with you: birds and cattle and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, so that they may abound on the earth, and be fruitful and multiply on the earth." 18 So Noah went out, and his sons and his wife and his sons' wives with him. 19 Every animal, every creeping thing, every bird, and whatever creeps on the earth, according to their families, went out of the ark. Even though the rain had ceased, Noah had to wait. You can’t just hop off of the boat after such a devastating flood and expect life to return to normal! It would take time for the land to dry out and for vegetation to be restored. Now, Noah didn’t just sit there and twiddle his thumbs. He sent out birds in an attempt to “test the waters” if you will. The raven was first. A hardy bird, it could perch just about anywhere and on anything, and of course eat just about anything as well. It never returned , likely feeding on some remnants of carrion that had resulted from the flood. This told Noah, that things had calmed down a little. Then he sent out a dove. A dove needs more settled conditions to survive and it’s diet consists mainly of seeds. Finding none, the dove returns to the ark. Noah waited a week and sent the dove out again, this time it returned with a freshly plucked olive leaf in it’s beak. Wow! Trees! A good sign, especially since olive trees thrive at lower elevations! Nonetheless, the dove returned, still needing the ark for food and rest. Noah waited another seven days and sent the dove out again, this time the dove did not return. So Noah knew it was okay to leave the ark, and after 376 days (according to my Lutheran Study Bible) in the ark, Noah removed the covering of the ark and could see dry ground. Did he and his family rush out? Nope! He waited until He heard from God. “Then God spoke to Noah saying, “Go out of the ark, bring out with you every living thing,” and the Bible says, So Noah went out.” There it is again! Exercising that simple faith obeying a simple one word command from God….”Go!” Noah waited until he was sure he heard from the Lord, then he did according to what the Lord commanded him. This was such a part of the character of the righteous Noah. Oh, that we would learn to exercise such simple faith! Waiting on the lord, desiring to do His will! Not rushing, but prodding, testing the doors and windows of His Word, until we are sure we are hearing from Him! And then, once assured, just stepping off the boat in faith for no other reason than that’s what God told us to do! Reflect: Can you think of another time when Jesus issued the simple command of “Go!” Pray: Lord, help us to always test the spirits in accordance with Your Word, and when we are sure we have heard from You, grant us the faith necessary to do Your will!