What Does Genesis 9:13 Mean?

I have placed My bow in the clouds, and it will be a sign of the covenant between Me and the earth.

Genesis 9:13(HCSB)

Verse of the Day

Sin was the cause of the deluge of waters that drowned the earth in a world-wide flood so that no life remained except those that were saved in the ark. It was rebellion that caused the judgement of God to be finally poured out on a God-rejecting world who did evil continuously in His sight. But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord and was rescued through the judgement, until finally, God's multi-coloured-mercy came shining through the dark clouds of destruction, in the form of a beautiful, multi-hued rainbow.

It was sin and rebellion that caused the judgement of water, but it was mercy and grace that caused the Lord to set His bow in the clouds as a covenant between God and the earth that He would never again destroy the world with water. And God's Word can never be broken.

The rainbow is a simple, visible sign of God's covenant of grace to His creation that is recorded in His written Word, and when we see a rainbow in the sky, it is certainly a cause of comfort. It occurs when the white light of the sun falls onto droplets of water, refracting into the glorious display we love to witness after the storm-clouds have thundered past. But we do not need a visible sign to trust the Word of God.

The sign that God sent to the earth 2000 years ago is of far greater consequence, for God sent His Son into the world to die and to rise again the third day so that whosoever trusts in Him as Saviour will not perish but have everlasting life. We may not have a sign in the sky, but we have a more sure Word of promise in the Scripture. And God's Word can never be broken.

Let us praise our covenant keeping God for all His loving-kindness and tender mercies to us and to all men, and let us live by faith in the Son of God Who loves us and gave Himself for us by taking upon Himself the judgement that we deserve so that His multi-coloured-grace can shine in our hearts throughout all eternity. 

My Prayer

Loving Heavenly Father, thank You for Your many precious promises. When the storm-clouds of life are thundering in on all sides, help me to trust Your Word and to remember the promises You have made to all Your children. May the sight of a beautiful rainbow remind me that Your Word cannot be broken and that all Your promises are true. Hallelujah! In Jesus' name I pray, AMEN.

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