Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.” Genesis 9: 16, NIV.
Gracious God, today as we come before You, we do it with a heart filled to overflowing with gratitude for all that You have done for us. May we appreciate what Your grace has wrought. In the precious name of Jesus Christ our Savior, we pray. Amen.
Whenever we think of grace we think of the New Testament. We seem to believe that grace was only made available after Christ came to earth. Nevertheless, throughout the entire Bible there are glimpses of grace.
If the flood was sent upon the earth because of the sin of human beings, then it would only be fair to say that, humans had received the wages for their sins, since the wages of sin is death (Romans 6: 23a). Nevertheless, the tender heart of God was so moved within Him, that after He saw the almost complete annihilation of the human race, and of all living things, He promised that He would never again, destroy the whole world with a flood. He would set a sign of grace in the clouds. He would provide a bow of promise.
After a rainstorm, whenever I see a rainbow in the sky my heart is touched by God’s faithfulness to His creation. Even though thousands of years have gone by since the flood, God continues to put the bow of His promise in the sky as a sign of His love and grace. Notice that our text says that whenever the rainbow appears in the sky, God will remember His covenant with all living creatures. Yesterday we saw that although human beings had so corrupted themselves upon the earth that it brought grief and pain to the heart of God, even then, He provided a way of escape so that whoever was willing, could escape.
The rainbow serves a double purpose. It is a sign of God’s love and faithfulness, and at the same time, it is a reminder of the wages of sin. It tells a story of mercy and justice. It reminds us that even though God’s ultimate desire is to save us, He will not accommodate His laws to meet our standards. It serves as an invitation for us to obey and live!
The next time you see a rainbow in the sky, be reminded that it is a sign of God’s love and compassion. Remember that His desire is that none should perish but that all should repent, confess their sins, and receive everlasting life. And when you remember – give Him thanks for His marvelous grace!