Reading for May7th

 Read Genesis 8.1-12. In verse 1: The great turning point in the story is the phrase, God remembered Noah and all the animals that were with him in the ark. God remembered the covenant promises made to Noah in 6.18 and shifted from destruction to reconstruction. God's remembering previous covenant promises is often signal of a major positive change in the fortunes of his people (Ex 2.24). God begins a whole new creation. He makes a wind blow over the watery chaos, just as God's wind over the deep that had begun the first creation (1.2).  In verses 2-12: The destroying flood of 7.11-24 is gradually reversed. The mountains of Ararat are located in a region in modern-day south east Turkey and northwest Iran. The raven and the dove are sent out to test whether they find dry land. The dove is sent out three times. The first time the dove returns with nothing, then returns with an olive leaf or branch (v. 11), and finally does not return at all (v. 12). The dove with an olive branch has become a symbol of peace, hope and new life. In the story, the dove with the olive branch is a sign of hope that the waters have partially receded below the  level of the olive tress. Comments or Questions..