Rainbows
Genesis 9:12-17, Matthew 17:2, Mark 9:3
So here’s a different perspective God placed on my heart and mind recently. (And I love seeing the parallels of God’s promises in Scripture!) This goes back to a Bible Study Fellowship study of Matthew – and it’s evidence of God’s perfect plan for us.
The first rainbow was placed in the sky by God for Noah and his family following the flood. It was a sign of the covenant and promise that God would not send another flood to destroy the earth.
“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. 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.’ So God said to Noah, ‘ This is the sign of the covenant I have established between Me and all life on the earth.'”
~ Genesis 9:12-17, NIV
The second “rainbow” occurred during the transfiguration.
“There He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light.”
~ Matthew 17:2, NIV
“His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them.”
~ Mark 9:3, NIV
R.C. Sproul has the best sermon I’ve ever heard pertaining to these passages. The following idea is paraphrased from this sermon on the transfiguration: The disciples were witnessing Christ in all of His perfect splendor and majesty, even if but for a moment. The fullness of color is only witnessed with light from the purest of white (a perfect rainbow). White comprises all colors of the visible spectrum.
Can you even begin to imagine what the disciples were privileged (yet terrified) to be witnessing on that mountain?
God put creation through a period of “destruction” and “reset” because of human sin and pride.
“Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.”
~ Proverbs 16:18, NIV
But, He established a promise to never destroy the earth by flood again – an extension of His grace and mercy toward mankind. Going even beyond that, and manifested throughout the entire Old and New Testament, He promised the messiah. Christ was sent to redeem the world – His death on the cross “destroying” sin once and for all.
…And instead, we are offered the gift of salvation, being “flooded” with God’s mercy and grace – a gift of eternal life instead of the eternal destruction we – each and every one – ultimately deserve.
