Promises are only as good as the veracity of the one promising and their ability to keep that promise. God’s covenant promises with mankind are based upon His truthfulness, faithfulness and are firmly grounded by His love. They are not based upon our abilities nor our veracity. He who spoke the universe into being has the power to keep those promises as well. When God swore an oath with Abraham, He swore upon His own word because there was no greater power to swear upon. (Hebrews 6: 13). Back in Genesis 9, following the flood; God established a covenant which was that never again would He destroy all of earth with a flood; thus He placed His bow in the sky as a symbol. (Genesis 9:11-13)a The rainbow has ever since stood as a symbol of God’s grace and symbolic of more than just this one promise. Indeed it stands as a symbol that God will complete His promises and will forever remain true to Himself. It does not mean that judgment will not come; though not as a flood to destroy everything–His bow does stand for judgment as well as for His mercy.
photo courtesy of Alberto Sepulveda
It stands as a firm sign of His covenant promises to all who believe and trust in Jesus Christ as their Savior. He paid the price, the penalty demanded that justice remain true. Look at Revelations,
" 4 After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.
2 And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.
3 And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald…."
Here again we see the rainbow as it encircles the throne as a constant symbol of God’s covenant promises with mankind. The exact vision of God to John was overpowered by the appearance of brilliance that came from the two stones. These stones not only symbolized the beauty and glory of God; but are the representative stones of Victory and the Shed Blood of Christ which is the atonement for sin. There is Victory in Jesus. All of the covenant promises from the old testament and the new are based in Christ. We can hold firm to their veracity for our lives because of Christ’s finished work on the cross in our behalf.
We see the rainbow referred to once more in Revelations when the angel appears in the midst of the 7 years of tribulation between the sixth and seventh trumpet sounding.
Revelation: 10 And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire:
2 And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth,
This angel wearing the symbol of the rainbow on his head, brought with him the two witnesses to prophecy and plead for the people to repent. This was an act of great mercy; despite the people’s refusal to follow God. (Revelation 9: 20 And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:
21 Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.)
So, the next time you see a rainbow; remember God’s covenant promises to all who believe in Jesus Christ as their Savior. Also, remember that God’s word is true and judgment will and must come to all who have rejected His gift of salvation. These two truths are held firm based upon the veracity of God and His Mighty power to perform all that He has promised.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rWpqaUsCTo
(a) Genesis 9: 11 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.
12 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:
13 I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth.
© 2013 Effie Darlene Barba
Photo used by written permission © Alberto Sepulveda
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