The Rainbow

Ever since my childhood, I have always been amazed when, after a rain, a majestic rainbow appears on the horizon. The harmonious combination of a variety of colors produces a very positive impression on us. For sure, you, too, have seen a rainbow.

After the Flood, God renewed His covenant of grace with Noah and his descendants. He promised that He would never again destroy this planet with water. As a sign of His covenant, He said: “This is the token of the covenant. . . . I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and . . . you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh. And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth” (Genesis 9:12–16).

“The Lord declares that when He looks upon the bow, He will remember His covenant. . . . It was God’s purpose that as the children of after generation should ask the meaning of the glorious arch which spans the heavens, their parents should repeat the story of the Flood, and tell them that the Most High had bended the bow and placed it in the clouds as an assurance that the waters should never again overflow the earth.”1

A question for you: Have you ever told your children the story and the meaning of the rainbow? Did you tell them the connection between the rainbow and the covenant of grace?

We can be sure that God will faithfully fulfill His promise of not destroying this earth with a flood. This planet will be destroyed by fire (2 Peter 3:1–7).

In a vision revealed to the prophet John, the throne of God was shown encircled by a rainbow. He wrote that “there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald” (Revelation 4:3).

What is the spiritual meaning of the beautiful rainbow? The perfect combination of justice and mercy. If God would implement only justice, all sinners would be immediately destroyed, since the wages of sin is eternal death. However, because of His mercy and grace, all sinners can be saved if they accept His provision for their salvation.

“As the Holy Spirit rested upon the prophet [John], he sees a door opened in heaven, and hears a voice calling him to look upon the things which shall be hereafter. And he says, ‘Behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone’ (Revelation 4:2, 3). Ministering angels were around about Him, waiting and eager to do His will, while the rainbow of God’s promise, which was a token of His covenant with Noah, was seen by John encircling the throne on high—a pledge of God’s mercy to every repentant, believing soul. It is an everlasting testimony that ‘God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life’ (John 3:16). It declares to the whole world that God will never forget His people in their struggle with evil.”2

“The rainbow round about the throne is an assurance that God is true, that in Him is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. We have sinned against Him and are undeserving of His favor; yet He Himself has put into our lips that most wonderful of pleas, ‘Do not abhor us, for Thy name’s sake; do not disgrace the throne of Thy glory; remember, break not Thy covenant with us’ (Jeremiah 14:21). When we come to Him confessing our unworthiness and sin, He has pledged Himself to give heed to our cry. The honor of His throne is staked for the fulfillment of His word unto us.”3

Let us teach and repeat this wonderful story of God’s covenant of grace to our children and those around us!