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Honey From The Rock Psalm 81:16 |
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THE RAINBOW COVENANT This entry was posted on 01-29-2010 and is filed under STUDIES IN GENESIS. "And God said: 'This is the sign of the covenant which I make between Me and you, and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth'" (Gen. 9:12, 13 NKJV).
I think that all of us enjoy a rainbow in the sky. I remember when we lived in Nebraska and saw a magnificent rainbow. It appeared after a summer storm and there on the flatlands of Nebraska you could see it from one end to the other. It was a "teachable moment" for our two little girls as we told them the story of Noah and the rainbow. In verses 15-17 God tells Noah that never again will He destroy mankind by a flood. The rainbow was actually for God's benefit. "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" (v. 16). The Open Bible says, "The promise is given never to destroy the earth again by a flood. The next time God destroys the earth, the means will be by fire (2 Pet. 3:10). The rainbow is designated as a testimony of the existence of this covenant and the promise never to destroy the earth by flood. As long as we can see the rainbow we will know that the Noahic Covenant is in existence." Notice that the rainbow is of divine origin. It is God Himself who sets it in the clouds. He calls it "My rainbow." The rainbow was an act of divine kindness with mankind and the earth as the beneficiaries. When we see a rainbow today we should be overcome with gratitude to God. The rainbow is a picture of grace ~ God's grace. The rainbow, first introduced to us here in Genesis, appears again the the last book of the Bible. John saw the Lord on His throne, "and there was a rainbow around the throne" (Rev. 4:3). "And in the vision of the glorified Church (Rev. 4:3) the rainbow again appears, pointing back to the early sign, connecting them a parts of one scheme, and visibly setting forth the glory of God in His mercy and grace" (Pulpit Commentary). Finally, notice that the rainbow was not just for Noah but for "perpetual generations" ("all future generations" ESV). The Abrahamic Covenant was for Abraham and Israel but the Noahic Covenant was for future generations, including this one. Remember that the next time God sets His rainbow in the sky! Hymn/Prayer: "O Joy that seekest me through pain, I cannot close my heart to Thee; I trace the rainbow through the rain, and feel the promise is not vain that morn shall tearless be." (George Matheson) CommentsDisplay comments as (Linear | Threaded)
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