Charles Spurgeon Commentary Genesis 8:13

"And it came to pass in the six hundred and first year, in the first month, the first day of the month, the waters were dried up from off the earth: and Noah removed the covering of the ark, and looked, and, behold, the face of the ground was dried." — Genesis 8:13 (ASV)

And it came to pass in the six hundredth and first year, in the first month, the first day of the month, the waters were dried up from off the earth:

That was a happy New Year's day for Noah. He was glad to find himself at rest once more, though not yet at liberty.

And Noah removed the covering of the ark, and looked, and, behold, the face of the ground was dry.

Why did Noah not come out? Well, you see, he had gone in by the door, and he meant to come out by the door, and the One who opened the door for him and shut him in, must now open the door for him and let him out. He waits for God's time, and we are always wise in doing that.

You lose a great deal of time by being in a hurry. Many people think they have done a great deal when they have really done nothing. Better take time in order to save time. Slow is sometimes faster than fast.

So Noah removed the covering of the ark and looked out, but he did not go out until God commanded him to do so.