The Rainbow...God's Reminder To Himself And Man

Genesis 9:14-16 -  It shall be, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the rainbow shall be seen in the cloud;  and I will remember My covenant which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh.  The rainbow shall be in the cloud, and I will look on it to remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” 

The rainbow has come to mean many things in the years that God created it…but this passage clearly states God’s intent in giving us this amazing sight in the sky. It’s creation was intended to remind both God and man that the waters of the earth would never be let go to completely destroy the living things he had created…but stand as a reminder to creator and man of God’s promise to always love the life he had saved.

I don’t remember being drawn to the words … “I will look on it”…before. The revelation that God made the rainbow for himself as much as he had made it for the family and descendants of the lives he had spared…adds a depth of meaning to every rainbow I have seen…and will see in the future.  God’s emotions had to have been full of sorrow as he watched his creation be destroyed …but he did not give up on it…just put in motion the second choice to save it…the harder choice to give up the life of hisony son.

God must struggle daily…hourly…even moment by moment with his promise.  As he looks down on this world that satan has tricked into such evil and wickedness…he must remind himself that he promised not to destroy it completely by flood again.  God’s hope is our hope…..and we must all wait for that perfect moment in time when he will send his son back to earth to destroy evil forever and establish his new Heaven here on earth.

As of today…rainbows will have a deeper meaning for me. They will remind me not just of God’s promise to never destroy the world he made by flood….but remind me of his promise to come back someday and rid the world of the evil that prompted him to destroy it in the first place. 

Father…thank you for the reminder that you love the world you made so much that you are willing to let evil have its way for a short time more…till you send your son to overcome it forever.  Forgive me for not comprehending the full picture of how much sorrow you must feel as you wait to send your son back to judge and save the ones who believe in you. Help me to do my part in sharing your saving mercy and grace with others that do not know you…so there will be less evil for Jesus to overcome.  Amen.