Alan Fong
3 min read
Alan Fong
3 min read
Alan Fong
3 min read
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. ~Revelation 4:3
One of the most beautiful sights we are privileged to see is the appearance of a rainbow after a storm. Its many colors and shape make us pause and reflect on its beauty during a time when things can be perceived as dark and discouraging. Rainbows have a special message to us. This morning, let us consider some lessons from the rainbow.
The very first rainbow mentioned in the Bible was shown to Noah. This rainbow was given as a sign and covenant after the storm that brought about a worldwide flood that destroyed every living creature except for Noah, his family, and every species that entered the ark with him. This covenant was a divine promise that God would never judge the world by flood again. It was a promise from God sealed with the multifaceted beauty of the rainbow. A covenant is an oath that cannot be broken. God gave Abraham a covenant that resulted in the Hebrew nation. God gave Moses a covenant that His people, the Israelites, would come out of slavery and inherit a land in which they would build their nation and have God’s blessing. God promised Adam and Eve of a Seed that would be born that would bruise the head of the serpent and be the means of redemption for the sin-cursed human race. That promised Seed was none other than the Lord Jesus Christ. God’s covenant is an oath that does not lie.
The rainbow has a multicolored appearance. Its makeup and beauty remind us of what Peter calls the manifold grace of God. The word manifold means various, many-colored, and variegated. God’s grace speaks to us about God’s compassion. Rainbows can be seen anywhere in the world. Regardless of what language is spoken, they have the same striking appearance to everyone who sees them. God’s grace reaches out from the height of Heaven to every sinner in the world. Ethnicity, language, or culture does not alter or change God’s compassion for sinners. “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” His compassion works through loving soulwinners who take the gospel message to every sinner. It is the message that “whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Three men in the Bible saw the rainbow. Noah saw the rainbow in Genesis 9:12-17 after the storm. Ezekiel saw the rainbow in Ezekiel 1:28, which was the appearance of the glory of God. John saw a rainbow in Revelation 4:3 before a storm. In each case, God is faithfully present with His servant. Whether it is before, during, or after a storm, always look for the rainbow. Always look for God’s faithfulness and comfort in your life. Always remember that “all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
Rainbows make us stop, pause, and think. Rainbows help us to see the light in a beautiful way. Rainbows are constant reminders of a God Who is loving, faithful, and comforting.
Bible Reading Schedule: Isaiah 59-63
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