Genesis 9: 12 & 13
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: have set My rainbow in the clouds, and it will be a sign of the covenant between Me and the earth.
Revelation 4: 2 & 3
At once I was in the Spirit, and I saw a throne standing in heaven, with someone seated on it. The One seated there looked like jasper and carnelian, and a rainbow that gleamed like an emerald encircled the throne.
God confirmed His covenant of mercy by displaying a rainbow. It was not any rainbow. It was His rainbow. My belief is that there had never been any rain on the earth up until the flood. So there would have been no rainbow seen previously.
The rainbow we see is usually a semicircle. If we are seeing it from ground level, the curvature of the earth (sorry, FE people) prevents us from seeing the full circle. If we are high enough, like on the top of a 500 metre building, we will see a full circle.
Why did God choose a rainbow to confirm his promise to Noah? It represents God's authority and power that is vested in His throne. We almost expect people to make promises that they have no intention of keeping. Politicians excel at this. Others make promises that they are unable to keep, even if they have every right intention.
God has no such problem. Whatever He has promised, He will do. He has both the authority and the power. However, there are times when God's promises are conditional. We also get to play our part. But rest assured, sooner or later, one way or another, in spite of you and me, God's will shall be done. Why? Because the rainbow is around the throne and God's promises are "Yes and Amen." God gives the promise and we say "amen!" Remember too that it is only through Christ. (2 Corinthians 1:20).
In a very real sense, God only deals with us through Christ. Who dares approach the throne of mercy and grace trusting in their own righteousness? They will find the way sealed off. We need always to keep in mind that we died and our lives are hidden with Christ in God. Colossians 3:3 is one of the most powerful and liberating verses in the Bible - if we will receive it and make it ours. Remember always that when God looks at us, He sees Jesus. The old "you" is dead and buried. So live in the light of that truth!
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: have set My rainbow in the clouds, and it will be a sign of the covenant between Me and the earth.
Revelation 4: 2 & 3
At once I was in the Spirit, and I saw a throne standing in heaven, with someone seated on it. The One seated there looked like jasper and carnelian, and a rainbow that gleamed like an emerald encircled the throne.
God confirmed His covenant of mercy by displaying a rainbow. It was not any rainbow. It was His rainbow. My belief is that there had never been any rain on the earth up until the flood. So there would have been no rainbow seen previously.
The rainbow we see is usually a semicircle. If we are seeing it from ground level, the curvature of the earth (sorry, FE people) prevents us from seeing the full circle. If we are high enough, like on the top of a 500 metre building, we will see a full circle.
Why did God choose a rainbow to confirm his promise to Noah? It represents God's authority and power that is vested in His throne. We almost expect people to make promises that they have no intention of keeping. Politicians excel at this. Others make promises that they are unable to keep, even if they have every right intention.
God has no such problem. Whatever He has promised, He will do. He has both the authority and the power. However, there are times when God's promises are conditional. We also get to play our part. But rest assured, sooner or later, one way or another, in spite of you and me, God's will shall be done. Why? Because the rainbow is around the throne and God's promises are "Yes and Amen." God gives the promise and we say "amen!" Remember too that it is only through Christ. (2 Corinthians 1:20).
In a very real sense, God only deals with us through Christ. Who dares approach the throne of mercy and grace trusting in their own righteousness? They will find the way sealed off. We need always to keep in mind that we died and our lives are hidden with Christ in God. Colossians 3:3 is one of the most powerful and liberating verses in the Bible - if we will receive it and make it ours. Remember always that when God looks at us, He sees Jesus. The old "you" is dead and buried. So live in the light of that truth!
