^{"THE RAVEN AND THE DOVE"}

 

 

Genesis 8

 

 

⁴ On the seventeenth day of the seventh month the ark came to rest on the mountains of Ararat [in Armenia].

⁵ And the waters continued to diminish until the tenth month; on the first day of the tenth month the tops of the high hills were seen.

⁶ At the end of [another] forty days Noah opened a window of the ark which he had made

⁷ And sent forth a raven, which kept going to and fro until the waters were dried up from the land.

⁸ Then he sent forth a dove to see if the waters had decreased from the surface of the ground.

⁹ But the dove found no resting-place on which to roost, and she returned to him to the ark, for the waters were [yet] on the face of the whole land. So he put forth his hand and drew her to him into the ark.

¹⁰ He waited another seven days and again sent forth the dove out of the ark.

¹¹ And the dove came back to him in the evening, and behold, in her mouth was a newly sprouted and freshly plucked olive leaf! So Noah knew that the waters had subsided from the land.

¹² Then he waited another seven days and sent forth the dove, but she did not return to him any more.

 

 

DEAR BELIEVER; SOME OF GOD'S CHILDREN ARE LIKE THE RAVEN, WE GO ABOUT TO AND FRO, UNTIL EXHAUSTION AND DISCOURAGEMENT CAPTURE OUR FAITH IN HIM. WE THINK THAT IN OUR OWN STRENGTH AND WISDOM, WE WILL ACCOMPLISH, AND SETTLE DOWN IN OUR SELF MADE REST, ONLY TO FIND NONE. THE END RESULT OFTEN TIME, THOUGH GRIEVING TO THE HEART OF GOD, WE DO NOT RETURN TO THE ONE WHO HOLDS OUT HIS HAND.ALWAYS WAITING FOR YOU TO RETURN TO THE ARK OF HIS PRESENCE. IS THAT YOU THIS MORNING? THEN LET THIS VERSE SPEAK TO YOUR HEART.

 

Matthew 11:28
Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest.

 

 

THE DOVE FINDING NO RESTING PLACE RETURNS. SHE RETURNS TO HIM WHO IS FAITHFUL AND TRUE. SHE KNOWS THAT HE IS HER HOME, HER RESTING PLACE AND WHEN ALL STRENGHT IS GONE. SHE GOES TO HIM WHO PUTS FORTH HIS HAND FOR HER ARRIVAL. ON HER SECOND JOURNEY WITH THE KNOWLEDGE THAT SHE IS LOVED, FINDS SUCCESS AND BRINGS BACK  IN HER MOUTH A NEWLY SPOUTED AND FRESHLY PLUCKED OLIVE LEAF. LIFE IS CELEBRATED!  THE DOVE AND MASTER REJOICE TOGETHER IN THE HOPE OF NEW BEGINNINGS.   

 

THE FINAL JOURNEY THE DOVE DOES NOT RETURN, FINDING HER PLACE IN HIS KINGDOM OF PROMISE, WHERE MAN AND BEAST CALL  EARTH  HOME ONCE AGAIN. WHERE THEY WILL MULTIPLY AND BE BLESSED FOREVER BY HIM WHO SITS UPON THE FLOOD.

 

Isaiah 43:1-2  "YOU ARE MINE!"

 

43 But now [in spite of past judgments for Israel’s sins], thus says the Lord, He Who created you, O Jacob, and He Who formed you, O Israel: Fear not, for I have redeemed you [ransomed you by paying a price instead of leaving you captives]; I have called you by your name; you are Mine.

 

 

² When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned or scorched, nor will the flame kindle upon you.