As I was reading the account of the flood in Genesis 8 this morning, I noticed something interesting. After 150 days of rain and flooding, the water began to recede and the ark rested on the mountains of Ararat.

Noah then waited 40 more days to send out the birds, waiting a week between each bird’s errand.

Verse 13 says that by the first day of the first month, the ground was dry. When Noah observed this, he very well could have charged forward and brought everyone off the ark. But he waited until God told him it was time… which didn’t happen until the twenty-seventh day of the second month, nearly two months later!

I can just imagine how anxious Noah and his family would have been to hop off the ark and walk on dry land. Talk about having cabin fever! But just as he trusted and obeyed God in the building of the ark, Noah completely trusted and waited on God for the time to exit the ark.

By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith. (Hebrews 11:7)