I’m giving you rainbows S1e59 Gen9:8
15 I will remember my covenant that is between me and you
. 16 When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.”
I am giving you rainbows for a very very special reason.
O
8 Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him, 9 “Behold, I establish my covenant with you and your offspring after you, 10 and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the livestock, and every beast of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark; it is for every beast of the earth. 11 I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.” 12 And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: 13 I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. 14 When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, 15 I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh. And the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. 16 When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” 17 God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth.”
Fleshing out the covenant with rainbows
Not a one shot deal. Noah gets covenant, and children, and children
Until the day when the world as we know it ends—that day
It is for the beasts too.
I will not cut off flesh, life by flood waters
Never again a flood.
Sign of the Covenant forever too
RAINBOWS
Rainbow is the sign of the covenant between me and the earth
When the clouds come and when the rainbows are seen WHO REMEMBERS?
God: “I will remember” my covenant v.15
Review: three choices: beasts? People? God
To remember is mental and physical
To think about, and to act on the behalf of
God remembers, God promises, God covenants
Whole business is 100% dependent upon HIS character
Rather than any % dependent upon OUR character
I will remember
What sign? Rainbow
When am I REMEMBERING, thinking and acting on your behalf?
When I bring a rainbow, I want YOU to know that I am thinking about you right now.
Our task: we are to remember, that God is remembering me, right now when He brings a rainbow for me to see******
He brings rainbows, so I can remember, that He is remembering me RIGHT NOW.
WHO IS DOING THE REMEMBERING? Who is thinking about mankind and the beasts and all flesh when a rainbow appears? God.
We know WHEN GOD IS THINKING about this covenant
. 16 When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.”
Many of us don’t even know it
If the Bible is true, we have the most beautiful marker: rainbow
Here is what the rainbow really means: it means that God is thinking about something right now
He is committing not to send another flood in judgment
He is likely exercising divine restraint, relentless rescuing,
Though We are more so covenant breakers ************
He is covenant maker, He is covenant keeper
15 I will remember my covenant that is between me and you
CONCLUSIONS
We are to remember God remembering us
Can specifically do so when He sends a rainbow our way
Take back the rainbow
Rainbows recall judgement. Rainbows recall rescue.
Rainbows mean covenant making and covenant keeping
He is of covenant making, we of covenant breaking
This covenant is utterly dependent upon HIS character rather than our character
In that way, rainbow coalitions, rainbow flags, and rainbow symbols serve to remind us to remember what real rainbows represent:
. 16 When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant
15 I will remember my covenant that is between me and you
When you see a rainbow: remember that God is remembering us right then. More rainbows = more remembering
Of What? Context of a History of divine judgment. Currently: Divine restraint. Divine rescue. Relentless rescuing.
Look for rainbows
Look for the moments when YOU know that HE is thining about YOU in this certain way.
I am holding back judgment,(justice) I am holding back what you actually deserve (giving mercy) In fact, I am giving you rescue, I am giving you MYSELF (grace)