Imagine entering into an ark, a vessel of safety for you and your family in which you built obediently with the wisdom and direction of God. You know God will send rain on the earth forty days and forty nights just as He has said. But you don’t know how LONG you will have to WAIT for the surface of the ground to be dry and when God will allow you to ‘go out of the ark’.
There were two birds that were sent out to see if the flood water were abated. These birds can represent how our minds might behave when we wait for the ‘flood’ of our circumstances to subside: the Striving Raven or the Abiding Dove.
“Then it came about at the end of forty days, that Noah opened the window of the ark which he had made; and he sent out the raven, and it flew here and there until the water was dried up from the earth.” Genesis 8:6-7
Since the raven never returned to the safety of the ark, Noah sent out another bird, the dove:
“Then he sent out a dove from him, to see if the water was abated from the face of the land; but the dove found no resting place for the sole of her foot, so she returned to him into the ark, for the water was on the surface of all the earth. Then he put out his hand and took her, and brought her into the ark to himself.” Genesis 8:8-9
Do you see the difference between the raven and the dove? The raven is like our flesh, striving and flying, never resting in the ark of safety that has been given but being self sufficient to the point of exhaustion.
The dove represents abiding peace, life and rest which comes when we RETURN to the safety of the ark. There is rest for your soul in Jesus Christ!
Are you like the raven, flying ‘to and fro’ striving to fly above this sin flooded world in your own strength? Or are you like the dove returning to the place of abiding rest in Christ?
“For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace…” Romans 8:6
If you are a Christian, you have entered into an ark of safety–you have peace with God through Jesus Christ. No matter your circumstances, be still and don’t try to ‘save yourself’ but continue to place your trust and faith in Jesus Christ. May you rest in the finished work of Christ being an ark, a vessel for the Holy Spirit to rest in by continually abiding in Christ.
**This dove also brings a message of abiding hope…{this post is to be continued….}
Altar of Heaven 
February 27th, 2014 at 4:53 am
Thank you – I want to be a Dove. I love you
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February 27th, 2014 at 4:56 am
I love you too!! What a joy to see your name here in the comments!!! You mean so much to me!! Thank you! Yes you and I choose to rest in Christ and be still. I’m thankful to have you as my sister!
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February 27th, 2014 at 4:55 am
I never pulled that lesson out of that story before. Thank you for the thoughts! Love Psalm 46.
~ Christie
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February 27th, 2014 at 5:00 am
I know me neither…until God revealed this to me one day…on a day I needed it. God knew I needed to hear about the raven and the dove–Hebrews 4:12 comes to mind “For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” I love you my sweet Christie, it’s always nice to see your name in the comments here–especially you being an instrument God used in drawing me to Himself!
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February 27th, 2014 at 2:23 pm
Nor have I ever considered the difference between the two birds…very thought provoking.
I do know without a doubt however, the amazing peace and comfort it is to be able to rest in HIM! Hence the Sabbath, it is SUPER important to our Creator for good purpose. I have been a striving raven and it produces nothing but more strife, no matter how “righteous” our intentions.
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March 4th, 2014 at 8:01 pm
Beautiful point and well written!
I have always heard this story since I was a child and it wasn’t until recently that I understood the magnitude of Noah’s obedience. Even though he waited on the rain, it had never rained before. God watered the ground from beneath..Genesis 2:6.
He built and ark and waited for ‘rain’ that he had never seen!
Love the point you made about the dove too 😉 May we rest in HIM.
Blessings my sister
JC
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September 7th, 2018 at 1:42 am
Wow this message has blessed me may the sweet continue to bless u
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November 17th, 2018 at 10:32 pm
Thank you so much! I have stopped writing publicly for almost two years but I’m going to start again Lord willing. My goal is to encourage in Christ
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