The Landing

The Bible says the Ark came to rest on the mountains of Ararat. These mountains exist today in eastern Turkey. Noah and his family were probably very anxious to step onto dry land again, but they had to be patient.

About nine months after the Flood began, Noah conducted a bird experiment to figure out how dry the earth was getting to be. The raven’s turn was first. A raven is a strong scavenger, and Noah let it out through the window he had made in the Ark. The raven flew back and forth as it explored the land that was starting to appear and dry out.

Next, Noah released a smaller, gentler bird. It was a dove. Back and forth it flew, but it could not find a clean, dry place to land. Noah brought it back inside to rest. He waited another week and sent out the dove a second time. The bird flew back and forth and returned that evening with a fresh olive leaf in its beak.

Noah was happy to see that the trees had started growing, and the floodwaters were almost gone. He waited another week and sent out the dove again. This time it never came back.

A couple of months later, God instructed them to leave the Ark: Noah, his wife, his sons and their wives, and all the animals. God was pleased that the first thing Noah did was to build an altar where he offered sacrifices to thank God for His faithful care. After one entire year, Noah and his family had made it safely through the greatest storm in the history of the world!

The purpose, the person,
the plan, and preparation
Put God’s judgment for sin
on wide display.

Then God closed the event with a wonderful promise:
Never again would a flood be the means to repay
the evil and wickedness of human behavior.
A rainbow sealed God’s promise. It’s a reminder today.

Illustration by Paul Agner