He put out his hand and took her, and drew her into the ark to himself (Genesis 8:9, NKJV). Do remember the story of Noah and how he sent out the dove to see if there was dry land? Worn out with her long flight, the dove returns to the ark as her only resting place. How heavily she flies! Will she drop into the waters? Will she ever reach the ark? But she struggles on. The dove has barely enough strength to reach the edge of the ark. She can hardly land on it. She is ready to give up and drop into the darkness, when Noah puts out his hand, takes hold of her, and pulls her in to him. Notice that: “he… drew her… to himself.” She didn’t fly right in herself. She was too tired, or even too fearful, to do so. The wandering dove was shown mercy, and she was not criticised for her unsuccessful wanderings. Just as the dove was she was pulled into the ark, so you, with all your sin, will be received. The dove had no olive branch in her mouth, nothing at all but just herself and her wanderings; but when she returned, Noah pulled her in. You may think of yourself as black as the raven, stained dark with sin, but through the Saviour’s eyes of grace, you are a dove! Fly back to the Saviour! – Charles H. Spurgeon Eli’s Reflection: What do you think? Is it you who must “find God”? Or is it God who finds you? Read the parable of the lost sheep in Luke 15:1–7. Courtesy of Good News Unlimited