The Color of GRACE

 

February 20, 2024

The Color of GRACE

Genesis 9:12-13

“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: “I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth.””



The rainbow, what a beautiful sight! This is the centerpiece of a great many “snapshots” I see on social media. Why wouldn’t that be the case, they are beautiful to see. The rainbow serves also as a snapshot of grace.

My mother-in-law loved rainbows, she wouldn’t miss an opportunity to take in the beauty of rainbows and to point them out to anyone who was around. For her, it was one of God’s beautiful gifts to us all. I believe, for her every rainbow symbolized the promise of God’s care for all of creation. It was a comfort to her. It was fitting that upon returning from her funeral, we looked out the patio door at her daughter’s home and there in the sky was a rainbow. It was comfort, God’s comfort I felt, to us as a grieving family of God’s promises and care.

The rainbow we read today was to be a sign of God’s covenant promises to all of creation. I want you to know today that God still sees the promises He made to Noah whenever the rainbow adds its colors to the sky. The rainbow remains a beautiful reminder of God’s grace.

We noted yesterday that the consequences of Adam and Eve eating the fruit of the tree that God said not to eat, spread like a disease. “Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Genesis 6:5). What is the creator to do? Well, God decided that He would cleanse the earth by a flood which would cover the globe. In grace, God instructed Noah to build an ark, through which God would preserve life. When Noah’s family and animal representatives were loaded into the ark, God sent water from above and below and the world was washed by water. Noah and his family and all living creatures were preserved from destruction by the grace of God. From that time until now, every time the rainbow shimmers in the sky, God is ‘reminded’ of His covenant of grace. God said, “Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind.”

The message to us is that when we see a rainbow we should always be reminded of God’s faithful promise and His amazing grace. The implication of the Covenant with Noah tells us it is an unconditional covenant. It does not depend upon anything Noah or his descendants could do. The promise is based upon God’s faithfulness alone. You see, just as God amazing grace provided a way for Noah and his family to be rescued in the ark, He also has provided a way for us to be rescued and be given life through Jesus Christ. That is a Good Gospel to remember during this season we call Lent.

My prayer is that the rainbow, when we see it, will remind us of God’s Amazing Grace.



Scripture Reading: Genesis 9:1-29