Gen 8:10 | KingComments | STEP | Noah sends out a dove three times. The dove is a clean animal, a picture of the Holy Spirit, Who can only find rest with Christ ( ) and with the believer, because he has Christ as his life ( ). When Noah sends her out the first time, most likely seven days after the raven was sent out – because the second time it says that he waits “yet another seven days” ( ) –, she returns, because she can’t find rest anywhere. The second time, seven days later, Noah sends out the dove again. Then she comes back with a freshly picked olive leaf. That points to new life. In the life of the believer, spiritual fruit will be discernible. God’s goal is that the new earth, the new life, produces fruit, fruit worked by the Holy Spirit, the fruit of the Spirit ( ). This fruit we see here in the picture of the freshly picked olive leaf of the olive tree. The olive tree produces oil. Oil was later used for the anointing of priests, kings, and occasionally a prophet. Thus is the believer anointed with the Holy Spirit, he has the “anointing from the Holy One” ( ; ), through which he can produce the fruit of the Spirit. When Noah sends out the dove for the third time, she does not return. Now he knows that the earth is dry.

‏ Genesis 8:10

Noah Sends out a Dove Three Times

Noah sends out a dove three times. The dove is a clean animal, a picture of the Holy Spirit, Who can only find rest with Christ (Mt 3:16) and with the believer, because he has Christ as his life (1Cor 6:19).

When Noah sends her out the first time, most likely seven days after the raven was sent out – because the second time it says that he waits “yet another seven days” (Gen 8:10) –, she returns, because she can’t find rest anywhere. The second time, seven days later, Noah sends out the dove again. Then she comes back with a freshly picked olive leaf. That points to new life.

In the life of the believer, spiritual fruit will be discernible. God’s goal is that the new earth, the new life, produces fruit, fruit worked by the Holy Spirit, the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22 ; 23a). This fruit we see here in the picture of the freshly picked olive leaf of the olive tree. The olive tree produces oil. Oil was later used for the anointing of priests, kings, and occasionally a prophet. Thus is the believer anointed with the Holy Spirit, he has the “anointing from the Holy One” (1Jn 2:20 ; 27; 2Cor 1:21), through which he can produce the fruit of the Spirit.

When Noah sends out the dove for the third time, she does not return. Now he knows that the earth is dry.