Waiting To Disembark

Genesis 8:6-14

"And it came to pass at the end of forty days, that Noah opened the window of the ark which he had made: And he sent forth a raven, which went forth to and fro, until the waters were dried up from off the earth.” (Genesis 8:6-7)

Forty days after seeing the tops of the mountains. Noah opened the window and sent out a raven to see what whether it was possible to survive outside the ark. Being omnivorous, the raven could eat spoiled flesh or any form of food available. After forty days there would have been enough new plants growth to support him. That the raven didn’t return clearly indicated that things were getting back to normal.

“Also he sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters were abated from off the face of the ground; But the dove found no rest for the sole of her foot, and she returned unto him into the ark, for the waters were on the face of the whole earth: then he put forth his hand, and took her, and pulled her in unto him into the ark.” (Genesis 8:8-9)

The dove is far more discriminating in its tastes, requiring more developed seeds to eat. The plants had not yet produced seed, and the ground was still too muddy for her to be comfortable, so she returned to the ark, making it obvious that not every animal could survive yet.

“And he stayed yet other seven days; and again he sent forth the dove out of the ark; And the dove came in to him in the evening; and, lo, in her mouth was an olive leaf plucked off: so Noah knew that the waters were abated from off the earth. And he stayed yet other seven days; and sent forth the dove; which returned not again unto him any more.” (Genesis 8:10-12)

Seven days after the dove returned the first time, Noah sent her out again. She returned with an olive leaf indicating that things were growing and developing, but that she had not yet found enough seeds to satisfy her. Almost two months after first seeing the tops of other mountains, enough plants had produced seed for the dove to survive away from the ark, and she no longer returned.

“And it came to pass in the six hundredth and first year, in the first month, the first day of the month, the waters were dried up from off the earth: and Noah removed the covering of the ark, and looked, and, behold, the face of the ground was dry. And in the second month, on the seven and twentieth day of the month, was the earth dried.” (Genesis 8:13-14)

After ten and a half months, for the first time they can see the ground. People from the deepest snow regions know what it is like finally seeing the ground again after months of it being covered. Just as they open windows and doors and put away winter things, Noah opened the top of the ark so everyone could look out and enjoy the view. Even though they could see the ground finally, there was still puddles of standing water and mud was very deep. It would take nearly two more months for the ground to get completely dried out. It is easy to understand the delay if one has ever observed a pond or lake being drained so the dm could be repaired. Until sufficient water evaporates from the soil, the mud has no bottom. One sinks so far into the mud as to make travel almost impossible. Finally, a year and ten days after the rain started the ground was dry enough to allow resumption of normal life. I suspect cabin fever began to be an issue, after a year of not walking on land.

“And God spake unto Noah, saying, Go forth of the ark, thou, and thy wife, and thy sons, and thy sons' wives with thee. Bring forth with thee every living thing that is with thee, of all flesh, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth; that they may breed abundantly in the earth, and be fruitful, and multiply upon the earth.” (Genesis 8:15-17)

Only when conditions were completely right did God direct Noah to leave the ark. Human impatience would have caused most of us to jump out of the ark as soon as it looked fairly dry, with the result that some would have been mired in the mud. Waiting for God’s direction avoided the problem.

“And Noah went forth, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons' wives with him: Every beast, every creeping thing, and every fowl, and whatsoever creepeth upon the earth, after their kinds, went forth out of the ark.” (Genesis 8:18-19)

I can only imagine the frolicking of the animals once they were sure of the safety outside the ark. They were no longer crowded together and could run and play freely. The smell of fresh air and new plant growth like that in early spring would only heighten their pleasure, and the taste of fresh food was even better.