February 15, 2018 Genesis 9:8-17
“When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” vs. 16
As the Hebrews recalled their ancient flood narrative, they included within it a powerful word of hope–the promise that the world would never again be destroyed by a flood–and the bow in the clouds would be the everlasting sign of that covenant. In their story, it’s interesting to note that the bow is a reminder to God of the promise that had been made. Some of us might wonder why God would need a reminder about anything! And that’s true, we’re the ones who need reminders, and the rainbow is one of the best. There really isn’t a good reason for rainbows to happen…we could have perfectly good thunderstorms without them. They come without invitation for no apparent purpose–and we love them. We can’t help but stop what we’re doing and gaze up into the heavens in amazement at their beauty. They’re a symbol of hope in our troubled and divisive times, a universal reminder of the intimate connection that exists between God and the entire creation. No one tribe, no one species, is God’s special favorite. All things are precious to the creator…and the rainbow cries out to us that our diversity is a matter of God’s design. “Red and yellow, black and white, all are precious in God’s sight!”
Thought for the Day: What does it mean to be a rainbow coalition?
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