Genesis 8

Genesis 8 is the story about Noah sending out birds to determine whether the earth has dried again so that he may get out of the ark. He sends out a raven first, then a dove. Then he sends out the dove again after some time, and the dove returns with an olive branch in it. Then, after a few more days, Noah sends out the dove again, and it doesnt return.

To me, this story is a story of patience. Patience because Noah knows that the Lord will fix things for him, if he just waits. He trusts in the Lord and the Lord gives him the sign that everything worked out for Noah by returning the dove with a n Olive leaf. There is a lot of symbolism in this passage, one with the Olive leaf and two with the fact that the dove doesnt come back after it is being sent out a third time. (Dove doesnt come back + THIRD time).

From a historical standpoint, the story of Noah and the flood could correspond to the “creation” of the Black Sea….I mean, if you think about it, that must have been a great flood for the people who have lived in the area that is now the Black Sea.

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