The Promise in a Rainbow

Background Scripture: Genesis 9
Lesson Scripture: Genesis 9:8-17

Introduction

We have all seen rainbows, and we all enjoy the sight of that beautiful band of color in the sky. Because we do not see them very often, they seem special. What kinds of thoughts and feelings come to the surface when seeing a rainbow? Science explains facts about the rainbow, which most of us learned in school, but what would God have us to understand about a rainbow? Science only discovers what God has created. The rainbow is his unique creation and was made for a specific reason. As we think about God’s promise and the token He gave with it, let it point us to hope for the future and a steady trust in all of God’s promises.

Key Verse

When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee (Isa. 43:2).

Lesson Scripture

Studying the Lesson

In the beginning God created the earth and pronounced it very good. Then, as we all know, Satan brought evil into the paradise God had made. Mankind became tainted, and the degradation began. Fast forward nearly two thousand years to the time of Noah. God had watched the progress that man, his crowning creation, had made. Yes, humankind had learned many things, but there had been a great decline in moral character. God saw that the imaginations of the thoughts of his heart were only evil continually.

When Noah was alive on the earth, the population is estimated to have been in the hundreds of millions, perhaps billions. Mankind was physically flourishing, but had become proud and self-confident. The condition of the world was likely much better, cleaner, and more lush than what we experience today. Was life so good and resources so easy to obtain that they felt no need to remember their Creator? We do not have a detailed picture of it today; we can only imagine how it must have been.

As we picture a thriving populace and flourishing world, can we speculate on what Noah’s thoughts may have been when God gave him the message He would destroy it? We can hardly wrap our mind around the horror of that message. Since we know Noah believed God’s message, it is no wonder he preached to the people for the next 120 years, trying to warn them and to save even a few.

Now, skip ahead to when Noah and his family came out of the ark. The contrast between an earth teeming with people, vibrant with life, and the silent one they now were entering must have been tremendous. The trauma of what they had just experienced must have strained the limits of their endurance. The majesty of God and the reason to fear Him were no doubt indelibly stamped in their minds. As God looked down and saw the few humans that were left, He loved them. Knowing their feelings, He kindly and lovingly came to them, and bending down to their level, gave them a promise. That which they had just come through would never happen again. He also went so far as to give them a physical sign, something that would remind them again and again of his promise to them, of his goodwill to the race of man. God wanted to be known as a God who loves his people, not a judge and destroyer. Softly, the earth’s first rainbow was spread across the sky above them.

Practical Truths for Today

The history we are studying today gives us another glimpse of God, his nature and his ways. The Bible says God is much greater than man. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isa. 55:8-9). God is the creator of everything we know. As such He owns it and can do what He wants to do with it, without asking anyone or offering explanation. Even though this is the case, because of his great love and care He reaches out to mankind again and again. A beautiful example of this is in the rainbow. God made Himself understandable to man by giving him a visible token even though He had no real need to do so. Ultimately, the rainbow is a token of God’s love.

The promise was to Noah but is also to us today; God told Noah it was to be perpetual. As God gave the promise He would never again destroy the earth with a flood, He was also giving mankind a clearer glimpse of his nature, who He really is. God is not a destroyer—his judgments point at redemption. He does not desire Noah to see Him as a destroyer but as One who saves those who are obedient to Him. He wants Noah to recognize Him as creator and preserver. He has no wish to destroy and finds no pleasure in it, a point that is verified elsewhere in God’s Word. We find this to be true for ourselves even today. When God gives a reproof there is always a way forward that leads to the light; He is a Redeemer of broken lives. The evil one comes with condemnation and accusation, which leads to darkness and despair. He tells us all is lost, there is no hope, and he capitalizes on impossibilities. When God wants to burn the dross out of our lives it may be difficult, but his aim is redemption, not destruction. Remember, He did not totally destroy the earth in Noah’s day even though it was very evil. God still works today in the same way: save the good and clean out the bad. Let us remember the rainbow when we are asked to go through a cleansing, knowing that the end of a thing is better than the beginning (Eccles. 7:8).

We may easily take God’s faithfulness for granted even without meaning to. Consider what our world would be like if God did not keep his promises. What if his promises were not dependable? What if God would only honor his promises for those who were his favorites or only when He was in the right mood? The promise in a rainbow is an outstanding example of his faithfulness. God wanted his children to trust in the promises He gave. He didn’t keep his intentions hidden so that He could change his mind if He so desired. Instead He made a solid promise, then gave a reminder so it wouldn’t be forgotten.

As the years have come and gone, we can see that God has not forgotten—He is faithful. The rainbow is still on full display, reminding us that God is keeping his word even though it was given so long ago. The fact that God does not change and does not go back on his word is hugely important; we derive a great amount of security from this. If someone fails to understand this, they will not be able to depend on God. If God is not trustworthy and dependable, what is? We live in a changing world where nothing stays the same for long. We must constantly adjust and adapt to change. How wonderful it is to have a solid foundation that we can stand on. The God who created the universe does not change. When He gives his word, it will endure unchanged into eternity.

Questions

1. Do we put enough emphasis on learning and claiming the promises of God?
2. How does the world’s cynicism change or modify our simple faith in God’s Word and his promises?

Source: COGICM Daily Bible Readings (Daily Bible Readings, PO Box 124, Glenn, CA 95943).