In very modern culture (at least since 1978) the rainbow stands for gay pride. I write it is very modern because the primary meaning of the rainbow dates back thousands of years. It is that meaning that you need to remember today. Yesterday, God graciously threw a rainbow in my path which sparked hours worth of reflection and meditation. The following though is only a couple of minutes worth. :)
The Rainbow Represents a Promise
The Bible speaks of the first rainbow in Genesis 9 in relationship to Noah. When Noah and his family withdrew from the ark, God made some promises to Noah and told him that the rainbow would be a sign of the promises or covenant.
12 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: 13 I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth. 14 It shall be, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the rainbow shall be seen in the cloud; 15 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. 16 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.” 17 And God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant which I have established between Me and all flesh that is on the earth” (Genesis 9:13-17)
God made a promise that He would never again destroy the earth with a flood. He also made other promises that day in the same conversation. God promised He would demonstrate His grace to us daily.
God promised He would demonstrate His grace to us daily. Click To Tweet20 Then Noah built an altar to the Lord, and took of every clean animal and of every clean bird, and offered burnt offerings on the altar. 21 And the Lord smelled a soothing aroma. Then the Lord said in His heart, “I will never again curse the ground for man’s sake, although the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; nor will I again destroy every living thing as I have done. 22 “While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer, and day and night shall not cease” (Genesis 8:20-22).
Remember, God is covenant faithful.
The good news is this: God is covenant faithful. The Bible says that over and over and over again – almost 250 times (check out Psalm 136 where the entire psalm says that God’s steadfast love or covenant faithfulness endures forever). My guess is that God wanted us to know and remember that He is covenant faithful. I am so grateful that my good friend, mentor, and colleague, Dr. Steve Schrader, drilled that into my head and heart so many years ago. Over the years the reminder of God’s covenant faithfulness has anchored my soul in troubled times.
God wanted us to know and remember that He is covenant faithful. Click To TweetRemember, God holds the world together.
God promised that He would guarantee the seasons as long as the earth remains. The best science can do is tell us with a high degree of probability that something will or will not happen. When it is established long enough, it is called a law in science. However, science can not guarantee anything. Science – and everything in the universe – depends upon God’s promise to Noah for it to work. God promises to keep the world together as we know it until He recreates it (Rev 21:1). Every day as we enjoy our world around us, it points to the covenant faithfulness and trustworthiness of our God.Science - and everything in the universe - depends upon God's promise to Noah for it to work. Every day as we enjoy our world around us, it points to the covenant faithfulness and trustworthiness of our God. Click To Tweet
Remember, God works for you right now.
Paul made it clear that God uses your circumstances, no matter what they are, for His glory and your good. He so graciously and tenderly reminds us:
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:28-39).
God loves us and works in every one of our circumstances for our good – to help us become more like Christ. We need these words. We need this promise. In some days and in some circumstances this is all the truth that you have. You don’t understand why, when, or how. But you can trust God in the midst of your circumstances that He is using your circumstance for your ultimate good.God loves us and works in every one of our circumstances for our good - to help us become more like Christ. We need these words. We need this promise. Click To Tweet
So what?
My friend, no matter what you face today, …no matter how difficult your circumstance is, …no matter what questions are in your mind today, …no matter how discouraged, disappointed, or sad you may be, …no matter what stirs in your soul, here’s the truth you need. God keeps His promises. God is trustworthy. God never fails us. God rules.
God provides you all the grace you need to honor Him today through Christ (1 Cor 10:13). God enables you in Christ to do the hard thing (Phil 4:13). God cares and provides for you.
This is true every day. God rules. God’s power is manifested all around us (Ps 19:1-6; Rom 1:20). God uses your circumstances for your good and His glory (Rom 8:28-29).
And in the middle of your day, sometimes, He reminds you with a special gift.
KevinCarson.com | Walking together through life as friends in Christ sharing wisdom along the journey
Thank you so much for this encouraging article. I really at this time of struggle in my life needed to be reminded of God’s promises and His grace that He gives me as a believer . He is faithful and never leaves me, which it is easy sometimes in this world to forget. I must remember a am the daughter of the King.