The Dove Found No Place to Set Her Foot
A Devotional Series from Genesis
Online Bible Audio/Readings Links (ESV)
6/30 Reading Portions: Joshua 2; Psalms 123-125; Isaiah 62; Matthew 10
Genesis 8:8-9
Then he sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters had subsided from the face of the ground. But the dove found no place to set her foot, and she returned to him to the ark, for the waters were still on the face of the whole earth. So he put out his hand and took her and brought her into the ark with him.
REST
Here we have another picture of the gospel of Christ. In His commission of His disciples as His witnesses to His kingdom, the Lord Jesus said,
“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.” Matthew 10:16
As our Christianity brings us testing from the Lord Jesus to grow us in grace and strengthen our faith so those testings may produce in us discernment (Rom 12:2) and steadfastness (Jas 1:3),[1] in the turbulent world that has been judged by our Lord’s Sacrifice at Calvary, we are sent out by Him like sheep in the midst of wolves (John 20:21); therefore, we must be wise like serpents and innocent as doves.
As witnesses of Christ, we will sometimes find no souls to win for Christ. We may witness no conversions. The floodwaters of judgment upon the earth may continue to cover the earth, and out there, we will find no rest for our beautiful, gospel feet (Rom 10:15). We need not be discouraged, however. Like the dove returning to the ark, we simply return to the heavenly ark of salvation, our precious Lord Jesus. In Christ, we have comfort. In Christ, we receive strength. In Christ, we receive rest until the next time we are sent out. When Jesus said,
“Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28
…it was not merely for our initial salvation, resting from laboring for salvation that we could never afford to purchase; this command is also for even the most mature believer on the planet. When our labor of love for Christ produces no visible fruit, which sometimes wearies us, or even depresses us at times, we need only come to Messiah Jesus, and He will give you and me rest.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
[1] See Devotional Thought from Genesis 8:6-7, https://www.jonjcardwell.com/p/noah-opened-the-window