“And he stayed yet other seven days; and sent forth the dove; which returned not again unto him any more.” (Ge 8:12 AV)
Sometimes, no news is good news. Noah sent out two types of birds. He sent out a raven. The raven never returned. This would make complete sense. The raven survives on dead tissue. The earth being covered with water would no doubt have some carrion floating on the surface. The raven had no need to return. This was the first indication that it was not yet safe to exist from the ark. The earth remained full of death and disease. Even if the earth had begun to dry, it would not have been safe. The dove returned after her first release with a fig leaf in her mouth. God sent the dove to Noah as an encouragement that the waters had begun to abate. The leaf was good news. The leaf meant there was a future outside the ark. Eventually, fields could be planted and homes could be built. When the dove failed to return the second time, Noah knew she had found materials sufficient to build a nest. The absence of the dove was good news. No news was good news.
Ignorance is not a good feeling. We want to know as much as possible. Many years ago, my son and I came across human remains. We were turkey hunting in the Kentucky woods, and a bleach-white dome was glistering in the sun. Then I saw very clean sneakers. Immediately, I knew what I was looking at. Upon further inspection, it appeared as though this poor soul met an untimely end. We called the authorities. Two county sheriff offices, the state troopers, and a federal agency arrived. There were quite a few law enforcement officers present. A bit intimidating. The body was right on a county line, which probably explains why it was in the woods for almost two full years. After a bit, we did some research. We found the name of the individual and tried to follow the case. A phone call to the detective was made but never returned. We wanted closer. We wanted to know how this poor man met his end and if there was foul-play involved. Not knowing was troubling. Ignorance is not comfortable. However, there are times when not knowing is a good thing. There are times when things resolve themselves without our knowledge of the details involved. Sometimes, ignorance is bliss.
Noah sent out a dove. He sent the bird in the hope that it would not return. There was no proof of what happened because she did not return. Maybe she met her end at the hands of the raven. Maybe she lit upon some decaying flesh, caught a disease, and perished. Maybe she exhausted herself and perished for lack of energy. Maybe she could not find suitable water and died of thirst. Who knows? These are the roads we go down when we don’t have as much information as we wish we had. This is when faith takes over. God promised Noah that he would disembark on dry ground. He sent the dove, not as a means of anxiety over possibilities. Rather, he sent the dove out with an expectation that she would not return; thus making the promise of God effectual. No news was good news. We don’t need all the answers, and sometimes, lack of detail is exactly what we need. Faith is the key! Information will always be limited. We will never have enough evidence. Faith is the evidence. Not unlimited information.
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