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7 As for you, be fruitful and increase in number; multiply on the earth and increase upon it.”

8 Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him: 9 “I now establish my covenant with you and with your descendants after you 10 and with every living creature that was with you—the birds, the livestock and all the wild animals, all those that came out of the ark with you—every living creature on earth. 11 I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be destroyed by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth.”

12 And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: 13 I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. 14 Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds; 15 I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. 16 Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.”

17 So God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant I have established between me and all life on the earth.”

 

God’s post flood promise, symbolized by the rainbow, is to never again destroy all life on Earth with a flood. It represents an everlasting, unconditional covenant with all living creatures, not just humans, assuring them of God's faithfulness and mercy.

This is a universal and everlasting covenant not just for humanity, but to all living creatures and for all generations. It is

A sign of peace: The rainbow is presented as a "bow" set in the clouds, not as a weapon, signifying God's decision to withhold judgment and maintain peace.

A reminder of God's faithfulness: The rainbow is a visible, tangible reminder of God's promise to be faithful to his covenant.

A sign of hope: The verse offers reassurance that the fear of another global flood is unnecessary, providing a symbol of hope and restoration for all creation.

What God does here recharacterizes His relationship with the world. There will be no more stories of Sodom and Gomorrah or plagues in Egypt. God says that He is open to change how He deals with the world.

Dear Lord, I love rainbows and I love to remember Your promise when I see one. Help me to remember your promise of hope and the promise of a new world.

Donna DeMauro 

 

Prayer Concern: For those who don’t have a person relationship with their faithful Father.