Rev. Sudha Mehta©
I live in the country where I can see the weather coming from miles away. When it rains at a certain time of day, as the clouds start moving away and the sun peeks out, I know it is Rainbow time. It shows up on the one side of the house so I get my camera and head there. Many times it is double Rainbow. Quite a treat to see, I smile and thank my God for the SIGN He has placed in the sky.
Let me tell you about the Rainbow and it’s connection to the Bible. It all began in Genesis 6. A very tough story with a wonderful ending!
Genesis 6: 1 And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born to them, 2 That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose. 3 And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years. 4 There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men, and they bore children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown. 5 And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. 7 And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repents me that I have made them.(AKJV)
Photo of Giant By New Earth Media
Things on Earth were not going well at all. Life devolved into an anti-moral, anti-God chaotic sinful existence really fast. People lived a very long time then. The longest living was Methuselah who lived to a grand 969 yrs. He was Noah’s grandfather.
While I often teach on the conditions of the era, and the Nephilim (also known as Giants) that the Bible speaks of, in this post I would simply like to address the issue of the Rainbow and what it meant.
When Noah was given the blueprints of the ark by God, he set about building it. The Bible tells us it took him 120 yrs to do so. Remember the people lived a long time, so, it is not just a preposterous thing to say. The Bible also tells us that during this period, as the ark was under construction, Noah preached on the coming judgment (2 Peter 2: 5). The construction was a family affair, but there is no reason to think that such a massive construction may not have required hired hands.
noahs_ark_Photo by ninjajournalist
I imagine Noah having plenty of help, and preaching to this hired help. Additionally, there were plenty of onlookers, and plenty of those that thought he and his sons were madmen.
“A flood to cover the earth, what nonsense! What is rain- anyway??”
A valid question since they had not seen it until this point . . . the earth was watered with a mist. Besides the location the ark was built at was landlocked!!
Perhaps you and I would have called him crazy as well. “He’s mad! His sons are mad!! What a bunch of lunatics!!!”
Then the animals started showing up, two by two. Nothing Noah did or said was enough to convince one soul and bring about a change of heart. To be honest, if I had been a preacher unable to bring one person to the knowledge of God and His truth, I would have quit. I get discouraged much easier than Noah!
“120 years and no humans with changed hearts . . . stop preaching, Noah, no one is listening!!”
Photo by Bev Swanson at Bev’s Blog
And then he did. Time to board the ark. The Bible says once they were boarded up, God Himself sealed them in! No one in . . . no one out!!
They sat in the ark for a week before the rain actually started! Can you imagine the taunts of people outside the boat?!
“These idiots locked in this huge box with the stinky animals!! Ha! Ha!! Ha!!!”
All the laughing, scorning that would have gone on . . . until the first drops of rain started falling! Drop, drop, drop on the cheeks of the very faces of the mockers and the scoffers!! Picture the shock on their faces . . .
Then the cries, the banging against the door and sides! The attempts to scale the sides . . . I could go on and on, but surely you can imagine it just as well.
120 yrs of this preacher droning on and on about judgment WHILE BUILDING THE WAY OF ESCAPING THIS VERY JUDGMENT! 120 yrs of drowning him out with jokes, taunts, perhaps an occasional rock or two thrown at him. . . . NOT ONE PERSON LISTENED . . . NOT ONE!!
Eventually, the cries died out, and just the sound of rain and wind beating against the ark remained as the boat lifted and floated.
Photo by: Ancient Patriarchs-WordPress. 1547791419964983
Fast forward to a year later . . . In Genesis 8 God finally allows Noah and everyone else to exit the ark, the earth is now dry enough, the ark has rested, and they step on to land.
Photo by Amardeep
Genesis 9: 14 And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud: 15 And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh. 16 And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look on it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth. 17 And God said to Noah, This is the token of the covenant, which I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth.(AKJV)
The Rainbow was given as a sign of a covenant that God made saying that the earth would never be judged the same way again. It in no way deems that God will accept any or all sins that were happening before the flood, then wink, nod and look the other way. In no way does the Rainbow signify that God is no longer the same God, or that purity and holiness are no longer required to enter His presence here or in Heaven.
Hebrews 12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: . . . (AKJV)
My friend, God’s love will never do away with His righteous judgment of sin. Not the Rainbow . . . not the Cross!! His forgiveness for sin remains due to the Cross always, but sin must be repented for! His forgiveness does not in any way, shape or form give licence to sin more (Romans 6:15). There is a judgment coming for the unrepentant:
2 Peter 3: 6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: 7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved to fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.(AKJV)
This time the judgment on Earth will not be a flood, but fire. Therefore, please pay attention:
Hebrews 12: 25 See that you refuse not him that speaks. For if they escaped not who refused him that spoke on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaks from heaven: 26 Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he has promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. (AKJV)
Bottom line: The Rainbow is a reminder to the faithful believer that God will not flood the Earth as He did then, but to those choosing not to live godly this same Rainbow should be proof positive that God does not put up with sin. He is patient as He was then, but He will judge again. So, listen when He says:
Leviticus 20: 7 Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be you holy: for I am the LORD your God.(AKJV)
And in the New Testament:
1 Peter 1: 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”(ESV)
As for the people who are offended by the ignoble use of the Rainbow as a sign of peace indiscriminately, let it go . . . the Rainbow belongs to God alone, it’s not going anywhere. You may feel offended for the Lord, but no one can steal the rainbow! It’s Maker and Owner is the Lord, and since He himself taught you to walk in His love in the face of extreme abuse, you do so. Remember, God does hate sin, but He loved every sinner enough to die for him/her. Talk like Him and walk like Him! It is a better witness!!
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