Chapter 8—After the Flood
The waters rose fifteen cubits above the highest mountains. It often
seemed to the family within the ark that they must perish, as for five
long months their boat was tossed about, apparently at the mercy of
wind and wave. It was a trying ordeal; but Noah’s faith did not waver,
for he had the assurance that the divine hand was upon the helm.
As the waters began to subside, the Lord caused the ark to drift
into a spot protected by a group of mountains that had been preserved
by His power. These mountains were but a little distance apart, and the
ark moved about in this quiet haven, and was no longer driven upon the
boundless ocean. This gave great relief to the weary, tempest-tossed
voyagers.
Noah and his family anxiously waited for the decrease of the wa-
ters, for they longed to go forth again upon the earth. Forty days after
the tops of the mountains became visible, they sent out a raven, a bird
of quick scent, to discover whether the earth had become dry. This
bird, finding nothing but water, continued to fly to and from the ark.
Seven days later a dove was sent forth, which, finding no footing,
returned to the ark. Noah waited seven days longer, and again sent
forth the dove. When she returned at evening with an olive leaf in her
mouth, there was great rejoicing. Later “Noah removed the covering
of the ark, and looked, and, behold, the face of the ground was dry.”
Still he waited patiently within the ark. As he had entered at God’s
command, he waited for special directions to depart.
At last an angel descended from heaven, opened the massive door,
and bade the patriarch and his household go forth upon the earth and
take with them every living thing. In the joy of their release Noah did
not forget Him by whose gracious care they had been preserved. His
first act after leaving the ark was to build an altar and offer from every
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kind of clean beast and fowl a sacrifice, thus manifesting his gratitude
to God for deliverance and his faith in Christ, the great sacrifice. This
offering was pleasing to the Lord; and a blessing resulted, not only to
the patriarch and his family, but to all who should live upon the earth.
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