She Did Not Return -Genesis 8:6-12

Genesis 8:6-12 ESV
At the end of forty days Noah opened the window of the ark that he had made 7 and sent forth a raven. It went to and fro until the waters were dried up from the earth. 8 Then he sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters had subsided from the face of the ground. 9 But the dove found no place to set her foot, and she returned to him to the ark, for the waters were still on the face of the whole earth. So he put out his hand and took her and brought her into the ark with him. 10 He waited another seven days, and again he 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 freshly plucked olive leaf. So Noah knew that the waters had subsided from the earth. 12 Then he waited another seven days and sent forth the dove, and she did not return to him anymore.

Noah first sends forth a raven, an unclean bird which goes to and fro until the waters dry. The raven has been associated with death and lost souls by various cultures according to Wikepedia. In Job, the devil tells God that he has been going to and fro on the earth. The raven is known for its cunning and intelligence. The snake in the Garden was crafty above other animals. These things together might cause one to see in this story some insight on the two forces at play in this world, and the choice before us. The raven is released by God to fly until the waters dry up. In Revelation, the sea is no more and the new creation has replaced  the old. The spirit of rebellion and death that is the kingdom of the prince of the air, of this world can be represented by this bird.
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While the raven is in the air, Noah releases a dove three times. On the third release, the dove does not return. We might be reminded that the Holy Spirit first hovered above the waters of the deep before earth was formed. The second time the dove returns with an olive leaf. This could represent the Spirit active on earth as He begins to work on the purpose and revelation of God. There are two olive trees, one on both sides of the temple door in heaven that point to the two witnesses that will prophesy at the end. After the third and last release, the dove does not return. Remember the Holy Spirit is likened to a dove that descends on Jesus at His baptism and remains.

As Moses called on God to part the sea to escape the armies of Pharaoh, Jesus will deliver us to to the dry land of the new creation. He will keep us safe for we are sealed with the Holy Spirit until the day of our redemption. Earth will be completed and assume its true form. The bride of Christ will descend and God will dwell with man, and there shall be no end.


Exodus 14:21-22
Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the Lord drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. 22 And the people of Israel went into the midst of the sea on dry ground, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.


Revelation 21:1-2
1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.