12-16 God continued, "This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and everything living around you and everyone living after you. I'm putting my rainbow in the clouds, a sign of the covenant between me and the Earth. From now on, when I form a cloud over the Earth and the rainbow appears in the cloud, I'll remember my covenant between me and you and everything living, that never again will floodwaters destroy all life. 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." (The Message)
This summer on our photo tour I leaned some things about rainbows that I had never bothered to consider. Things like a rainbow can only be seen when the sun is less than 45 degrees in the sky and that if there is rain and the sun is shinning in the right position there will be a rainbow somewhere. I leaned some of the science behind the whys of rainbows and how to predict where you will see a rainbow after the rain. But I also learned that even when you know the whys of rainbows it can't explain the beauty and awe of actually seeing a rainbow. I know how I feel when I see a rainbow, maybe not quite as excited as some who see double rainbows, but still excited for me. Then I read this passage and I see that God puts the rainbow in the clouds not for us but for Him and I'm left to wonder what does God feel when he sees the rainbow? Does God look upon us now and wish he hadn't made that promise so he could try again? Does God see the rainbow and remember fondly those who have persevered in faith when things got really bad and their was no end to the rain in sight? I'll never know on this side of eternity what God things when He sees the rainbow again in the clouds but I don't think it hurts to imagine and remember along with God those who have gone before us and taken hope because the bow is still in the clouds.
Some thoughts to ponder and share with others:
- What is the most vivid rainbow you have ever seen?
- Have you ever leaned why certain natural phenomena happen and then found that it took away it's mystery and awe? What was it?
- Do you think it is wrong to attribute emotions / feelings to God? Why or why not?
- What sign might you use to remember God's love toward you as a person?
No comments:
Post a Comment