#26"Ravens and Doves" Genesis 8

So it came to pass, at the end of forty days, that Noah opened the window of the ark which he had made. Then he sent out a raven, which kept going to and fro until the waters had dried up from the earth. He also sent out from himself a dove, to see if the waters had receded from the face of the ground. But the dove found no resting place for the sole of her foot, and she returned into the ark to him, for the waters were on the face of the whole earth. So he put out his hand and took her, and drew her into the ark to himself. And he waited yet another seven days, and again he sent the dove out from the ark. Then the dove came to him in the evening, and behold, a freshly plucked olive leaf was in her mouth; and Noah knew that the waters had receded from the earth. So he waited yet another seven days and sent out the dove, which did not return again to him anymore. Genesis 8: 6-12 NKJV

The raven not returning would be a good indication that the flood waters had receded, but a raven is also an opportunist. He may have found carrion from the dead and rotting corpses of animals that had been lodged in rocks, on the mountains, as the waters receded. This would not be suitable for all the inhabitants of the ark, so Noah releases a dove. The dove finds no suitable resting place and returns to the safety and food that is in the ark. The second time she returns with an olive branch which is a good sign of new growth, and the third time she did not return which was the sign that all could exit and survive.                                 

We see the dove with the olive branch as a symbol of peace. God has kept His promise to Noah, the storm has passed and the waters are receding. We will see this again with the new covenant, and the coming of God's provision for peace. Noah's family will continue the seed of that ultimate promise, the crushing of sin and death. 

When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

Matthew 3: 16&17