Genesis 8: Noah's Ark: The Waters Recede

Monday, August 25, 2025

by Chinwenmeri Ikechi

Illustration of Noah's Ark atop receding floodwaters as a dove flies, symbolizing God's remembered promise and the return of life.

Genesis 8

After many days of flood, God remembered Noah and all the animals in the ark. This does not mean God had forgotten them before. It means God was ready to act and help them. God caused a wind to blow over the earth, and the waters began to go down.

Noah sends a dove from the ark; mountains peek from the receding floodwaters.

The rain stopped, and the waters slowly went down over many months. The ark came to rest on the mountains of Ararat. Even though the ark stopped moving, the earth was still covered with water.

After some time, the tops of the mountains could be seen. Noah waited patiently. He opened a window of the ark and sent out a raven, but it kept flying back and forth. Then Noah sent out a dove to see if the land was dry, but the dove found no place to rest and returned to the ark.

Dove returns to Noah's Ark with an olive branch, signaling the receding floodwaters.

Noah waited seven more days and sent the dove out again. This time, the dove came back with a fresh olive leaf in its beak. This showed that plants were growing again and the land was becoming dry. Noah waited another seven days and sent the dove out once more. This time, the dove did not return, showing that the earth was ready.

God then told Noah to come out of the ark with his family and all the animals. They were to spread out and fill the earth again.

Noah offers a sacrifice after the flood; a rainbow appears as God promises to never flood the earth again.

After leaving the ark, Noah built an altar and offered a sacrifice to God to say thank You. God was pleased with Noah’s worship. God promised that He would never again destroy the whole earth with a flood. God also promised that the seasons would continue as long as the earth remained.

Genesis 8 teaches us that God remembers His people, answers at the right time, and keeps His promises.

Discussion Questions

1 What did God do after the flood began to end?

God caused a wind to blow over the earth, and the waters began to go down.

2 Where did the ark come to rest?

The ark came to rest on the mountains of Ararat.

3 Which bird did Noah send out first?

Noah sent out a raven first.

4 Which bird brought back an olive leaf?

The dove brought back an olive leaf.

5 What did the olive leaf show?

The olive leaf showed that plants were growing again and the land was becoming dry.

6 How many times did Noah send out the dove?

Noah sent out the dove three times.

7 Who told Noah to leave the ark?

God told Noah to leave the ark.

8 What did Noah do after leaving the ark?

After leaving the ark, Noah built an altar and offered a sacrifice to God to say thank You.

9 What promise did God make after the flood?

God promised that He would never again destroy the whole earth with a flood, and that the seasons would continue as long as the earth remained.

10 What lesson does Genesis 8 teach us?

Genesis 8 teaches us that God remembers His people, answers at the right time, and keeps His promises.