"CARRIED SAFELY THROUGH THE WATER" -Conclusion

 Noah evidently kept a careful log of events.  That record tells when the rains started and stopped. It also reveals that the waters overwhelmed the earth for 150 days.  Finally, the waters began to abate.  One momentous day, the ark gently came to rest on "the mountains of Ararat," located on modern-day Turkey.  That would have been in April 2369 B.C.E.  It was 73 days later, in June, that the tops of the mountains became visible.  Three months later, in September, Noah decided to remove some part of the ark's covering, or roof.  Surely, that heavy work was rewarded as light and fresh air poured in.  Earlier, Noah began testing the environment to see if it was safe and habitable. He released a raven, which came and went for a while, perhaps perching on the ark between flights; then Noah released a dove, which returning to him until it had found a place to roost. - GENESIS 7:24-8:13. 

Noah's routine no doubt focused still more on spiritual matters. We may well picture the family gathering regularly to pray together and to talk about their protective heavenly Father. Noah relied on Jehovah for every important decision. Noah could see that the earth had finally "dried off"-after more than a year aboard the ark-but he still did not unseal the door and lead an exodus from the confines of that vessel. (Genesis 8:14) No, he waited for a word from Jehovah!

Family heads today can learn a great deal from that faithful man.  He was orderly, industrious, patient, and protective of all those under his care.  Above all, though, he considered the will of Jehovah God first in all things.  If we imitate Noah's faith in these respects, we will bring blessings to all those we love.

Next time: "GO OUT OF THE ARK" 

From the jw.org publications