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After the Flood, a New Beginning
This chapter is based on Genesis 7:20 to 9:7.
The waters rose above the highest mountains. It often seemed to
the family within the ark that they would die, as for five long months
their boat was tossed about. It was a terrible ordeal, but Noah’s faith
did not waver.
As the waters began to subside, the Lord caused the ark to drift
into a spot protected by a group of mountains preserved by His
power. These mountains were only a little distance apart, and the ark
moved about in this quiet area. This gave great relief to the weary,
storm-tossed voyagers.
Noah and his family longed to go out again on the earth. Forty
days after the tops of the mountains became visible, they sent out
a raven 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 out. It found no footing and returned
to the ark. Noah waited seven days longer and again sent the dove
out. When she returned at evening with an olive leaf in her mouth,
there was great rejoicing, but Noah still waited patiently for special
directions to leave the ark.
At last an angel opened the massive door and told the patriarch
and his household to go out on the earth and take with them every
living thing. Noah did not forget the One by whose gracious care
they had been preserved. His first act was to build an altar and offer
sacrifice, expressing 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 Noah and his family,
but to all who would live upon the earth. “The Lord said in His
heart, ‘I will never again curse the ground for man’s sake. ... While
the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, winter and
summer, and day and night, shall not cease.’” Noah had come out
onto a desolate earth, but before preparing a house for himself he
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