The Bow (483 hits)

As a child, I remember being always amazed by the sight of a rainbow in the sky after a summer rain. Seeing the vibrant colors arched across the sky would always fill me with a sense of awe. Even when I learned in school the science behind the rainbow - reflection and refraction - I still believed that there was a deeper significance in the rainbow. It wasn't until I began to read and study the Bible that I finally found the answer.

Genesis 9: 9-10:

"And I, behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your seed after you; And with every living creature that is with you, of the fowl, of the cattle, and of every beast of the earth with you; from all that go out of the ark, to every beast of the earth."

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Covenant as defined by The Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary:

Function: noun Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from present participle of covenir to be fitting, from Latin convenire 1 : a usually formal, solemn, and binding agreement : COMPACT

2 a : a written agreement or promise usually under seal between two or more parties especially for the performance of some action b : the common-law action to recover damages for breach of such a contract

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So we find in Genesis 9: 11-15, God makes his formal, solemn and binding agreement:

"And I will establish my covenant with you; neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth.

And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations:

I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth.

And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud:

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." (scripture taken from KJV)

I can image from that time forward, after every rain, Noah would make a point to look to the sky to see the token, the seal that God established as a sign of his word. And I'm sure that Noah quietly gave thanks and praise to his Father in Heaven, who kept true to his word.

Today, when I look heavenward after a rain and see the beautiful bow in all its glorious colors, I take the time to send up a thank you to God, my Father in Heaven, whose faithfulness extends even to this day. Posted By: Vanessa Humphries
Sunday, November 23rd 2008 at 9:20PM
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