I was driving to a friend’s house the other day, when I looked up to the sky and saw this…
I had to pull over for a second to admire the sight before me. The creativity, beauty, and wonder that exists in this simple rainbow is a testament to the power, might, and holiness of God, and it gave me reassurance that even in my frantic, relatively insignificant life that God is real and is in control.
Rainbows have become symbols for a plethora of different things in society today, but the Bible tells us what they actually stand for.
Back in ancient times, God had to destroy the earth for all the wickedness and sin that existed. He did so through a flood that wiped out all of mankind (except for Noah and his family).
Upon completion of the flood, a rainbow appeared in the sky…
“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: I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. 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. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life.'”–Genesis 9: 12-15
What is truly beautiful about rainbows aren’t just that they represent God’s promise, but they also explain how God is able to make that promise in the first place! For God’s intolerance for sin is no less strong now than it was thousands of years ago. God’s bow, however, no longer points down at us because of our sin. Rather, it points up. Up to the Heavens and to the skies. Up to the One sitting at the right of the Father. Up to Jesus, who bore all of God’s wrath so we wouldn’t have to!
That is the beautiful thing about rainbows. Sure, they’re majestic and breathtaking to see. But what’s even more amazing is what they represent. The arrow is no longer pointed at us! God has willingly pointed His wrath on Himself so that we would not have to bear it!
What a truly amazing gift from an even more amazing God! He bore the wrath we deserve because He loves us and wants to rescue us from our sin.
Won’t you partake in the promise of the rainbow? The taste is far greater than any Skittle you can imagine!
-BH
Brady Hammond 