Learning from the flood: the importance of waiting

The flood narrative in Genesis 6-8 is a long passage. Why? What does the writer devote the most time to? It is the time on the ark itself waiting for the flood to rise and then the waters to come down.

From 8:6 we have that odd section when Noah sends out some birds to find out information. First he sends a raven, which flies around but doesn’t come back.

Then a dove, which came back after not finding land. The same dove later found an olive branch and came back, before not coming back the third time. What is happening with the birds? The way the ark is built means Noah cannot see out himself. He is sending scouts, finding information about what the world is now like. Is this a lack of trust in God? No. Even when the dove does not return, Noah does not leave. He waits for God to tell him to leave. The birds are Noah trying to understand what is happening. He has no doubt that God will bring them out in his time; he is judging how long that time is likely to be.

Some have seen some connections between the dove here and the Holy Spirit which took the form of a dove at Jesus’ baptism. Derek Kidner notes that the dove finding dry land is like the Spirit being the foretaste of the new life awaiting us.

The lengthy account of the waters going down tells us something. Even when the worst was over, there was waiting. A lot of waiting. Even when Noah thought it was good and safe to leave, he waited some more. They were on that boat for around a year. In that time, there is no record of God speaking to them until the order came to get off. Noah knew he and his family and the animals would be saved; God had promised this. Yet as to when, he did not know. The outcome was sure; the timeframe was not. Every day, is this it? No. Still waiting.

Christians are called to wait as well. We know that the victory has been won by Jesus. We know that the future will be bright, new heavens and a new earth, no more mourning or crying or pain anymore. An eternity lived with our loving Lord Jesus. Yet we are not there yet. The outcome is sure; the timeframe is not. Waiting is something we don’t do very well. It is not waiting like in a dentist’s waiting room, where the options are flicking through magazines or scrolling on your phone. Christians are to actively wait. To strive to live lives worthy of the calling we have received. To live now as we will live for eternity, with our fellow believers, knowing God better, waiting for the future hope to arrive. A new beginning is coming like it was for Noah. It is certain, but we are not there yet.