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The Raven And Dove

by Leonard Granger  
7/07/2016 / Christian Living

Our small country church recently had a Vacation Bible School for many children and the topic this year was about what the Bible tells us about the great flood.

The ark was filled with pairs of animals but we read where fowls were many more. Genesis 7:3, Of fowls also of the air by sevens, the male and female; to keep seed alive upon the face of the earth. The birds later were to play an important part in when the earth was clear of water and again could be inhabited. Verse 7:24, " And the waters prevailed upon the earth an hundred and fifty days." As the rain stopped we read. Genesis 8:5, "And the waters decreased continually until the tenth month; in the tenth month, on the first day of the month, were the tops of the mountains seen."

After another forty days in the ark, Noah was led by God to send a bird forth from the Ark and that bird was a Raven. Ravens have the largest brain of any bird species and live up to 15 years. It is among the most intelligent birds. It can remove lids from garbage cans, or trick other animals into giving up their food. In some areas, they have learned to drop mussels and snails on rocks or roads to break open the shells. The most enterprising of ravens will drop two snails at once to save time and energy! They are omnivores, which means they eat both animals and plant material. The Raven was very much at home in the midst of dead carcasses after the flood. According to Genesis 8:7.... "And he sent forth a raven, which went forth to and fro, until the waters were dried up from off the earth." Noah never saw the raven again.

There were also Doves on the Ark and they are a different type of a bird as they mate for life. The males and females work together to feed their new babies and stock pile seeds for eating later. They are primarily seed-eaters and eat weed seeds which is valuable to farmers and gardeners. The dove is designed to fly fast and they have been clocked at 55 mph. So we read in Genesis 8: 8-9.... "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 in the ark" Yes, the female dove flying fast covered a lot of the earth and found no dry ground so returned to the ark and her mate. Later we read where the dove was released and the earth was found dry and the dove returned with a olive leaf.

Noah, a man of faith, worshipped God with a burnt offering and God tells us of his covenant with Noah in Genesis 9:11. " And I will establish my covenant with you; neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth."

The Raven pictures for us the natural man, without faith and without God, always trying to outsmart God, content to live in the flesh and for the flesh. The ark is a picture of salvation in Christ, something the Raven wanted no part of and never returned to Noah. The dove, on the other hand, saw nothing in that cursed world of rotting flesh appealing and is compelled to return to the ark for refuge and safety. How interesting that both birds find just what they are looking for!

The question we should ask ourselves is, "what are we looking for?" Are we after the rottenness and spoils of this world as the raven in Noah's time? or do we seek things above of a more divine nature? The dove, one of the fastest birds of the air, returned with the good message of peace and hope in Christ and God rewarded Noah's faith with a covenant that prevails today.

Trust we will all be in the church of our choice this Sunday as we worship our living Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

God Bless America

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