In Genesis 7, we find Noah in a great time of transition. He finally finishes building the ark and brings his family and the animals on board. After the flood waters cover the earth for 40 days, he begins to seek a sign from God to see when it is safe to leave the ark:
"After forty days Noah opened a window he had made in the ark and sent out a raven, and it kept flying back and forth until the water had dried up from the earth." (Genesis 8:6-7)
Noah sends out a raven first, and it returns. What could a raven represent? This is a little gross, but ravens are flesh-eating birds. Perhaps Noah was checking to see if there was still a sign of death and destruction after the flood. Had God finished His purpose, or did they still need to wait?
When the raven returns without finding flesh, he sends out the dove. It was time to see if there was land in sight. Was there finally peace after the storm?
"Then he sent out a dove to see if the water had receded from the surface of the ground. But the dove could find nowhere to perch because there was water over all the surface of the earth; so it returned to Noah in the ark..." (Genesis 8:8-9)
When the dove returns without finding land, Noah knows it isn't time to leave the ark yet.
"He waited seven more days and again sent out the dove from the ark." (Genesis 8:10)
Noah waits seven days before sending out the dove again.
Prophetic insight: If we look at Scripture, we see that God often uses the number seven to represent completion and perfection. We see this pattern in the seven-day creation story, the seven-day march around the walls of Jericho, and in Jesus' command to forgive seventy times seven, to name a few biblical examples! God is the Creator of numbers...and I believe He loves to communicate His heart through numbers today, even as we see numerical patterns in Scripture.
"When the dove returned to him in the evening, there in its beak was a freshly plucked olive leaf! Then Noah knew that the water had receded from the earth." (Genesis 8:11)
When the dove returns a second time, it returns with a sign—the olive branch! A symbol of peace and new life after a time of destruction.
Noah waits another seven days, and sends out the dove again.
"He waited seven more days and sent the dove out again, but this time it did not return to him." (Genesis 8:12)
This time, the dove serves as a sign to Noah and His family that it is finally time; they can safely leave the ark and find a peaceful new land, a new beginning...to start a new life in new territory!
Now, let's get into why this story is significant for many of God's people in this new season we are entering!
The Days of Noah
Much like Noah, we are living in crazy times. Many are calling good evil and evil good. Evil seems to be running rampant. We are hearing negative news day in and day out.
"As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away..." (Matthew 24:37-39) (Photo via Wikimedia Commons)
Even so, we can receive the GOOD REPORT of the Lord—no matter what is happening in the world around us. Like the dove, we can fly above the flood to see a different and new perspective. Jesus is seated on the throne, and He has a plan to advance His Kingdom through us...
The Flood Waters Are Receding
Has it felt like a flood has entered your life? Many of you have obeyed the Lord and felt like a flood of destruction came in. Despite wave after wave of difficulty, challenges and trials opposing God's plans and promises He has given to many of you, the enemy could not take you out. God is going to use the flood for your good!
Where you've had great loss, and it seems like everything has been swept away—like the rug has been pulled out from under you—there is going to be a new, clean slate...a fresh chapter. The Lord will remove the wounds of trauma and heal your heart and mind so you can hope again! (Even as I wrote this, the sun came shining out of the storm clouds here in Georgia.)
The ravens will search and see that the destruction of the past is gone! You can let it go. Forget the former things and let it be done. The fear of the past cannot come with you into your peaceful future! You will hear the COOING OF DOVES in the land!
"The season has changed, the bondage of your barren winter has ended, and the season of hiding is over and gone. The rains have soaked the earth and left it bright with blossoming flowers. The season for singing and pruning the vines has arrived. I hear the cooing of doves in our land, filling the air with songs to awaken you and guide you forth. Can you not discern this new day of destiny breaking forth around you? The early signs of my purposes and plans are bursting forth..." (Song of Songs 2:11-13)
As the waters recede, God will bring NEW LIFE, NEW LAND, AND NEW TERRITORY for His people.
Out of the Fog and Confusion
Many of you are seeking God for your next steps, and all you see is a sea of confusion and fog. You've followed the Lord, and now you feel like you're waiting for His winds of change to fill your sails and lead you in a new direction. You can't tell north from south or east from west.
God is going to use the flood waters to REPOSITION HIS PEOPLE. Some may even find that the Lord is moving them to new cities, states, and countries. New jobs, positions, and open doors that were previously shut will open. God is going to build His Kingdom in these dark times to see revival come and the family of God made whole and entering into destiny.
It's time for TOTALLY NEW BEGINNINGS! That's why we must follow the Holy Spirit's guidance closely.
Look for the Sign of the Dove
In this time or transition out of the old and into the new, many sons and daughters are desiring the specific instruction of the Lord. They deeply long to be led by the Holy Spirit. I believe this pleases the heart of God so much...that we want His will for our lives! What a sweet fragrance of worship to King Jesus!
God delights to lead and counsel His people.
"I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with My loving eye on you. Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you." (Psalm 32:8-9)
Like Noah, it's time to expect specific instruction and direction from God. Like the Lord used the DOVE as a directional sign for Noah, I believe the Lord is saying that He is going to lead us by His Spirit into new beginnings in this season.
Isn't it just like our loving God to use something so gentle (dove and olive branch) to speak hope and peace to Noah after a time of great destruction?
I hear the Lord saying, "No matter what the past floods have brought into your life, you do not need to fear the future. Even though you don't know what lies ahead of you, your future is brimming with hope and peace. Just watch for Me. Stay in step with Me. We are going where you have not been before." (Photo via Free SVG)
We must look for the dove—those signs and wonders, those unique ways the Lord will speak to us personally that are marking out the path before us into uncharted territory.
Waiting on God's Perfect Timing
As we see in Noah's story, there was a much-needed process of waiting. He looked to the dove to show Him the timing of God's plan. The truth is, no one likes to wait! We can often feel frustrated when God gives us a promise...and then we enter into the longest waiting game of our lives. This is so important: You must wait on the timing of the Lord!
However, when you do so with active expectation, your waiting becomes filled with so much hope and purpose! You begin to prepare your heart and your life NOW...before you see the ark door begin to open up. In the wait, God is setting you up for perfect timing. In Noah's story, we see that he waited seven days in between sending out the dove. Seven represents completion and perfection. Noah wisely knew it wasn't time to leave the ark yet. It wasn't safe. The land wasn't ready.
You cannot leave the ark too soon! There are puzzle pieces the Lord needs to put in place to prepare a NEW PLACE for you. We must let God finish His work. Continue to actively WAIT and WATCH for the Lord. The Holy Spirit often shows us something to come way in advance of its fulfillment...so we will be prepared to start taking leaps of faith toward the vision when He says, "It's time to GO!"
Prophetic Word: Hello New Beginnings
"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland." (Isaiah 43:18-29)
I hear the Lord say, "Say hello to your new beginnings! The flood is passing! You don't need to remain braced up, guarded in fear and worry! The waters are receding from your life to reveal beautiful new beginnings with Me. You need to come out of isolation and hiding, arise and shine. Leave the old ways behind—even what worked before! It's a new season. I have new territory for those whose eyes are fixed on Me, who are faithfully running the race in obedience."
I hear the Lord saying, "You may have been through a great time of distress, but I will remove your fear of the future and the doom and gloom. I am removing your enemies!
"This new beginning will be marked with PEACE—the sign of My Dove, My Holy Spirit, and My olive branch. I am going to ANOINT (olive branch) you for the NEW territory I am bringing you into. This will touch families, and as a sign, I will release new lands and houses to many people. When the real estate market seems to say this is the WORST time to move and get a house, I am going to release FAVOR to REPOSITION many in NEW BEGINNINGS, NEW LANDS, and NEW COMMUNITIES. I have My eye searching the land of where I want to bring revival, where I want to bring those who have been isolated. I will provide for you!"
"Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds!" (Luke 12:24)
"Where you are going is not where you have been. There is greater destiny, purpose, provision, and life ahead. It's time to leave the ark soon! Listen for the cooing of the doves. Watch for My DOVES as a sign to you. Follow My leading. It's time to come into your new beginnings!"
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Mariel Villarreal, Founder
The Embolden Co.
Email:Â Mariel@marielvillarreal.com
Website:Â www.marielvillarreal.com
Mariel Villarreal is a writer, speaker, and prophetic mentor. Her heart is to encourage this generation with right-now prophetic words that reignite hope during the waiting between a prophetic promise and its fulfillment. Through her ministry, the Embolden Co., she holds seasonal prophetic mentorships, training programs, and retreats to empower people around the world to develop their spiritual gifts and hear God for their lives, so that they can bring revival to the nations. You can follow her on social media on Instagram @Mariel_Villarreal_ and Tiktok @Mariel.Villarreal and Facebook @TheEmboldenCompany to get more prophetic encouragement!
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Mariel Villarreal is a true gift to the Body of Christ. As I have watched her ministry grow in recent years, she has proven to be incredibly discerning when it comes to understanding times and seasons. So often, Mariel's words have brought confirmation and greater clarity to what I have personally sensed the Lord showing me.
