Genesis 9:8-17

“I have set my bow in the clouds, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth.” vs. 13

There’s something magical about the appearance of a rainbow in the sky after a storm. Not always the same, some are partial, while others are double and stretch all across the sky. They’re often an occasion for photos and always bring joy–some people even connect them with buried treasure and leprechauns. They’ve been a source of wonder from the beginning and it’s really not surprising to see them associated with the Flood Story in the Hebrew scriptures as a sign of the covenant between God and the earth. This Noahic covenant, as it’s come to be called, is a reaffirmation of God’s creative relationship to the universe. The rainbow connection is a promise that God and the creation will remain inseparable for all time, and that all things in the heavens and on earth are significant and precious. Too often humans have failed to see themselves as caretakers and have instead ravaged the environment in search of power and riches. We are but one link in the great chain of being and when we’re the weak link, consequences can be devastating. Perhaps the rainbow can not only be a sign of hope, but a reminder of the diversity that is integral to the unity we have in Christ Jesus. There are many colors but only one Light!

Thought for the Day: What does the Rainbow Flag signify?