After the waters had their sway over the Earth for 150 days or about five months, Genesis 8 starts with God remembering Noah and all of the living things in the ark. As the floodwaters recede, the ark, after a total of seven months, comes to rest on the mountains of Ararat. And after ten months, the tops of mountains could finally be seen.
Noah’s exercise with the raven and the dove is so that he can identify when the waters have receded enough to indicate the presence of dry land. When the dove returns first with a freshly plucked olive leaf, Noah knows that at least the tops of trees are no longer submerged. When the dove does not return at all, we can assume that there is enough exposed land to support the life of the bird.
in verses 13-19, Noah notices that the earth is drying out and God directs Noah and his family to exit the ark along with all of the other animals and living things that were on the ark.
Noah then sacrifices offerings to God and God is pleased. God declares that He will not do such a thing as the flood again, even though man is evil in his heart. The cycles of day and night, and that of the the seasons will continue. This is strong proof of God’s grace in the face of man’s sin and its’ appearance here so early in Genesis deserves our recognition and gratitude.
“And the LORD smelled a soothing aroma. Then the LORD said in His heart, “I will never again curse the ground for man’s sake, although the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; nor will I again destroy every living thing as I have done. “While the earth remains, Seedtime and harvest, Cold and heat, Winter and summer, And day and night Shall not cease.””
Monday Night Bible Study 