What are your takeaways from the story of Noah and the flood and the ark and the dove? The story is found in Genesis 6-9.
For me, among other things, the story of Noah’s ark includes a story of prophecy, a story of agency, and a story of consequence. I’m amazed that Noah obediently built the ark. I wonder how Noah’s family and the animals reacted as water immersed the ark. The ark crew absolutely put their trust in the Lord as the rains descended, but they’d already put their trust in Him when they began to build the boat. I ponder the symbol of immersion and all the ways it applies to me and my covenants.
When they left the ark, how did their surroundings look? When they saw their first rainbow, was it raining on them? Do I worship before, during, and after a storm?
I love comparing notes with my friend Roxy Kimokeo. She adds such flourish to her thoughts, and it’s tender to see the scriptures through her worshipful eyes.
Roxy Kimokeo’s Thoughts from this week’s Come Follow Me study of Noah, the Flood, the Ark, and the Dove
Isn’t it just so beautifully tragical that “all in whose nostrils was the breath of life” died? In the beginning, the Lord breathed life into all flesh and now it was all being taken away?
The torrents of rain were probably mixed with the weeping tears of God that Enoch saw, and then maybe all of ours too, watching so many of our brothers and sisters who had allowed themselves to become bound in chains without realizing the danger until it was too late. There was nowhere to go as the water started rising around you.
And then the earth must have been grateful to be cleansed but cried too because all of her beautiful creations that she’d given birth to from the beginning of her life had to be destroyed through no fault of her own. Wouldn’t that be so sad too? You have to watch all the things you’d ever accomplished, things you probably never knew you could make, things that brought you and God and mankind so much joy, be wiped away. But then she must have been relieved to have the chance to start again, and to know she could do it all because she’d done it once.
And do you think maybe since that time there’s probably even more species evolved? So many more birds and flowers and plants? Maybe!
But I think I love most about this week’s study is that the dove was the first to leave the ark and fly across the waters, and be the first to see everything fresh and clean and pure, just like it symbolizes.
Can you imagine this tiny white bird soaring over that great expanse between heaven and earth? Bringing proof of the Lord’s work and salvation to the prophet? The thrill it must have been to see that little flying light carrying a branch (maybe almost its size?) and the cries of relief and tears of joy, and prayers of gratitude, and songs of praise that erupted from that single act of a tiny bird who symbolizes the Holy Spirit? The Holy Spirit that had also moved upon the face of the waters at the dawn of creation. The Spirit that gives life and carries that same thrill to your heart when you hear truth and feel God’s love.
All the things God breathed life into had died, but He showed by the sign of the dove that He could breathe life into it all over again. That’s my favourite.
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In