Rainbows

Rainbows.

They say that in the Scottish Highlands you can experience Four seasons in a single day. Wind Rain sleet and Sunshine (all at the same time). Because of our changing weather patterns we also see rainbows quite often.

Informed by modern science, we know that a rainbow is the reflection and refraction of sunlight through a curtain of falling rain, which produces an arc displaying a prism of many colors. Rainbows are beautiful!

The Bible would teach us that it is God the creator of all things, who put the Rainbow in the Sky. But Why? Well Just as thousands of people are putting rainbows in their windows as a sign of hope, God also put the rainbow in the sky as a sign and a reminder.

But Why?

Well Just as thousands of people are putting rainbows in their windows as a sign of hope, God also put the rainbow in the sky as a sign and reminder.

And that’s what the bible teaches us about the Rainbow, it is a sign given by God pointing us and reminding us of something, what is it there to remind us of?

Here are Three things the Rainbow remind us of.

1) Gods Promises of life.

The rainbow serves in the first instance as a reminder to God of his promise, (sometimes reffered to in the bible as a “covenant”) It, represents an everlasting promise between God and all creatures of the earth. A promise of life.

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Genesis 9:16 The Message

When the rainbow appears in the cloud, I’ll see it and remember the eternal covenant between God and everything living, every last living creature on Earth.”

Genesis 9:16 NIV

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.”

The New International Version Chapter 9

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.”

“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”

But Have you ever wondered why we call it a rainbow? What kind of bow is it? Well Interestingly the word used for rainbow in Hebrew (קֶּ֖שֶׁת) (qeset) and it is basically the same word for a Warriors Bow (as in Bow and arrow).

It might seem a bit strange to take a symbol of death and war and use it as a promise of life? But it all has to do with the way the Bow is pointed. If God had designed his Bow to point down at us that would be quite threatening, but it’s not, Its pointed towards Heaven!

God will fire an arrow of Judgment, in order to deal with human wickedness and the corruption upon the earth like he did in the days of Noah, but instead of striking us, God himself will absorb the death Blow. The bible would teach us that it happened at the Cross of Calvary when Jesus the messiah, Gods anointed chosen king, died for the sins of the whole world? He took the death blow for his people located across the nations throughout history.

And so, the cross (normally reserved as a symbol of Death) Just like Gods Bow, has now become a symbol of life for millions of Christians across the world. “Glen scrivener has said “Every time the storms hit we might think that God will Judge the world – but no! – out comes the sign, the rainbow is a promise of life. And it will cost the Judge his own life to fulfil it.”

1) Gods Promise.

2) God’s Presence

Some people think that being a follower of Jesus and believing in God is all about going to heaven when you die, to be with God, floating on the clouds for eternity. Whilst it is true that that when we die we go to be present with the Lord, the bible speaks much more of heaven coming to earth than it does of humans going to heaven after they die. Heaven you might say becomes a place on earth. It was Jesus who said the meek shall inherit the earth.

The sign of Gods rainbow is a reminder God is committed to his creation and desires to be present with his people on Earth.

Some people think that being a follower of Jesus is all about going to heaven when you die, to be with God, floating on the clouds for eternity. Whilst it is true that that when we die we go to be present with the Lord, the bible speaks much more of heaven coming to earth than it does of humans going to heaven after they die. Heaven you might say becomes a place on earth. It was Jesus who said the meek shall inherit the earth.

Interestingly, the rainbow appears in the bible just as God begins the process of re-creation. The bible teaches us that if we are trust in Jesus the Christ for the forgiveness of sins, we become a new-creation. When we put our trust in Jesus who absorbed the arrow of Judgment from Gods bow on the cross, God adopts us as his children and we inherit the new renewed earth. But even better we can have a fortaste of Gods precence right here here right now. “I stand at the door and know whoever opens the door I will come and eat with him and make my home with him”

Gods promise

Gods Presence

Gods Perfection

Gods Promise

Gods Presence

3) Gods Perfection.

Anna and I have been going out for walk in Alness and we have seen lots of rainbows, with lots of Colours in all shapes and sizes some with a word that says hope. The rainbow in the bible is a symbol of hope, but not just any kind of hope, a sure and fixed hope!

The number 7 is a very significant number in the Bible as it stands for perfection. God’s rainbow has a spectrum of many colours but 7 are usually visible. The 7 coloured rainbow reminds us that God’s judgment and his promises are perfect. Because God is perfect in all his ways, his promises of life to us cannot fail. Even if we should die it will become ressurection. Jesus once said to his friends, I am the ressurection and the life, whoever believes in me will live even thought they die, do you believe this?

ow when we see it should invoke in us a certain hope, a hope that is not wavering but firm and fixed because of the perfection of the God who put it there.

M. Luther described the rainbow as “God’s extraordinary affection for mankind.” Luther writes that God is trying to persuade mankind via the rainbow not to fear a punishment like a flood but to hope for a blessing and for the utmost forbearance from the Lord (Luther, 2:145)[3]

Conclution

In these hard times we all need hope, Next time you see a rainbow, remember these three things, Gods Promise of Life, Gods commitment to his creation and Gods perfection.

In these hard times we all need hope, Next time you see a rainbow in the sky or in someones window , I challenge you not just to look admire, say thats pretty. Remeber it is a sign, take it in and ponder theses these three things, Gods Promise of Life, Gods commitment to his creation and Gods perfection.

God bless if you wanna get in touch leave me or any of the ministers here at Rosskeen leave a comment below or send me a message and I would be glad to connect with you.

THE STORMS OF LIFE

It is significant that the sign of the covenant associated with this re-creation, the rainbow, is a unique and auspicious feature of the creation—and open for all to see. Intimately associated with the storm, rain and cloud of destruction, the “rainbow in the cloud” is now newly interpreted as a sign of God’s commitment to his creation, a covenant that God is solely responsible to uphold.[4]

What Does the Rainbow teach us about God, Does God Care? Is God Bothered about his creation?

M. Luther linked God’s promise that no future flood will cover the earth with “God’s extraordinary affection for mankind.” Luther writes that God is trying to persuade mankind via the rainbow not to fear a punishment like a flood but to hope for a blessing and for the utmost forbearance from the Lord (Luther, 2:145)[5]

What does all this tell us about God?

He is Good.

He is Committed.

He is so committed that he sent Jesus.

He Cares.

Landing

Lyrics

I can see clearly now the rain is gone I can see all obstacles in my way Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind It's gonna be a bright (bright) Bright (bright) sunshiny day It's gonna be a bright (bright) Bright (bright) sunshiny day

Oh, yes I can make it now the pain is gone All of the bad feelings have disappeared Here is that rainbow I've been praying for It's gonna be a bright (bright)

[1] R. G. Branch, “Rainbow,” ed. T. Desmond Alexander and David W. Baker, Dictionary of the Old Testament: Pentateuch (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2003), 667.

[2] The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), .

[3] R. G. Branch, “Rainbow,” ed. T. Desmond Alexander and David W. Baker, Dictionary of the Old Testament: Pentateuch (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2003), 668.

[4] R. G. Branch, “Rainbow,” ed. T. Desmond Alexander and David W. Baker, Dictionary of the Old Testament: Pentateuch (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2003), 667.

[5] R. G. Branch, “Rainbow,” ed. T. Desmond Alexander and David W. Baker, Dictionary of the Old Testament: Pentateuch (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2003), 668.