Written by: Shirley Evans
Reading: Genesis 9:8-17
8 Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him: 9 “I now establish my covenant with you and with your descendants after you 10 and with every living creature that was with you—the birds, the livestock and all the wild animals, all those that came out of the ark with you—every living creature on earth. 11 I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be destroyed by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth.”
12 And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: 13 I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. 14 Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, 15 I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. 16 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.”
17 So God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant I have established between me and all life on the earth.”
After the Flood – A New Beginning
Have you ever been frightened during a terrible thunderstorm? Perhaps you remember yourself as a child or one of your own children terrified at the cracking of lightening or the rumble of thunder. God foresaw such fear with Noah and his descendants. At the first raindrop or rumble, would they fear it would be the beginning of another devastating flood? Noah had been righteous and obeyed; therefore God promised Noah – and every living creature on earth - never again would there be a universal flood. This covenant is sealed with the rainbow to be a reminder to us and a reminder to God of His promise – “never again” and “for all generations.” This is God’s new beginning, His unconditional divine promise never to destroy all earthly life with natural catastrophe.
As we examine our relationship with God through this Lenten season, let us think of this Noahic Covenant and look to the cross and resurrection as a “new beginning” in our lives. Let the rainbow represent to us not only the covenant with Noah, but a reminder of the new covenant in Jesus Christ.
Dear Lord, thank you for your love and faithfulness to me. Whenever I see a rainbow, let it remind me of your covenants – both old and new. Let it serve to remind me of an eternal new beginning given to us in Christ. I ask this in Jesus name, Amen.
Reading: Genesis 9:8-17
8 Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him: 9 “I now establish my covenant with you and with your descendants after you 10 and with every living creature that was with you—the birds, the livestock and all the wild animals, all those that came out of the ark with you—every living creature on earth. 11 I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be destroyed by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth.”
12 And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: 13 I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. 14 Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, 15 I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. 16 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.”
17 So God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant I have established between me and all life on the earth.”
After the Flood – A New Beginning
Have you ever been frightened during a terrible thunderstorm? Perhaps you remember yourself as a child or one of your own children terrified at the cracking of lightening or the rumble of thunder. God foresaw such fear with Noah and his descendants. At the first raindrop or rumble, would they fear it would be the beginning of another devastating flood? Noah had been righteous and obeyed; therefore God promised Noah – and every living creature on earth - never again would there be a universal flood. This covenant is sealed with the rainbow to be a reminder to us and a reminder to God of His promise – “never again” and “for all generations.” This is God’s new beginning, His unconditional divine promise never to destroy all earthly life with natural catastrophe.
As we examine our relationship with God through this Lenten season, let us think of this Noahic Covenant and look to the cross and resurrection as a “new beginning” in our lives. Let the rainbow represent to us not only the covenant with Noah, but a reminder of the new covenant in Jesus Christ.
Dear Lord, thank you for your love and faithfulness to me. Whenever I see a rainbow, let it remind me of your covenants – both old and new. Let it serve to remind me of an eternal new beginning given to us in Christ. I ask this in Jesus name, Amen.
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