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Dear Friends:
When was the last time you saw a rainbow? It is April, the month of spring showers and, if we are on the lookout for them, rainbows.
Have you ever thought about the spiritual significance of rainbows? They are mentioned only four times in the Bible. So, it will just take a minute to do a quick Bible study to try to understand what a rainbow means from God’s perspective.
It seems that the rainbow’s home is in heaven, surrounding the throne of God almighty. In the first chapter of his book, the prophet Ezekiel describes what he calls “visions of God.” (v.1). The details that follow are consistent with other visions of the God in Heaven as are given by Isaiah, Daniel, and John. In these visions, the prophets see angels and creatures worshipping One on the throne who is described as fiery, brilliant, shining, and whose surroundings are described in terms of jewels. Then Ezekiel 1:28b says, “Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him.”
We see the heavenly rainbow again in Revelation 4 where John describes what he sees after he has been invited up through a door into Heaven. Again, he sees a throne, worshippers, angels, and, in this case, thunder and lightning. And after he describes the One reigning as King, he says, “A rainbow, resembling an emerald, encircled the throne.”
An additional reference to the heavenly rainbow is given in Revelation 10:1 when an angel comes out of Heaven with a message for those living on the earth. The angel is described this way, “He was robed in a cloud, with a rainbow above his head . . .”
So, from what we have seen of the rainbow in Heaven, it appears that it reflects the glory and majesty of God Himself. It is radiant and beautiful and full of color and light. We probably can assume that the angel in Revelation 10 seems to have a rainbow around him because he has just come from the presence of God and is carrying God’s glory with him.
Knowing this, we now can take a new look at the first time a rainbow is noted as appearing on earth. We find it recorded in Genesis 9:13-16. God has just destroyed the earth with a flood and the only survivors (other than fish and sea creatures) are eight human beings and the land animals that Noah and his family had taken with them on the ark. Can you imagine what their lives had been like for the preceding year as they saw the rains pour down and watched and listened as nearly the entire human race and animal kingdom were drowned and then waited for months on the ark for the waters to recede and the devastation to become visible?
What picture of God do you think was playing through their minds when they laid their heads down at night? They saw a God of wrath, a God of judgment and, I am sure, they were not at all confident that He wouldn’t wipe them out, too, someday.
God knew their fears and looked on them with compassion. He knew they would never forget the ordeal they had survived, but He wanted them to keep, alongside that horrible memory, an assurance, a promise that He would never destroy the earth with a flood again. As a visible reminder of that promise, God gave Noah and his family a rainbow in the sky. This is what He said, “I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the Earth.” In this case the rainbow was a reminder of God’s mercy, His loving compassion toward the earthlings who so depended on Him for life and breath.
As I read these passages, I conclude that the rainbow is a sign of connection between God and the earth, between Creator and creation, between the all-powerful God and His human children. We see multiple aspects of God in the rainbow He sets in the clouds:
- His anger against sin and His mercy toward those who trust Him.
- His indescribable power and His tender compassion for those who depend upon Him.
- His radiant glory in Heaven and His giving glimpses of that glory to those who believe in Him.
- His separateness in His other-worldly Heaven and His willingness to connect with those humans who look for His presence on this earth.
One more thought: The rainbow, as you may remember from science classes, is composed of seven colors ranging from deep purple to red. If we ponder the possible significance of those colors –
- We can see the royal color purple at one end of the spectrum as representing the majesty and greatness of God our King.
- In the middle of the rainbow is a bright emerald green (such as noted in the rainbow of Revelation 4:3). What can that green represent better than the green earth that God lovingly formed and set in orbit around the sun many eons ago?
- At the other end of the spectrum, we see the red representing the blood that Jesus shed to redeem us and provide connection with the great and glorious God of Heaven.
So, the rainbow encompasses, from one end to the other, God’s power and glory, His creation, and His loving redemption of that creation after its corruption. Great picture, isn’t it?
Next time you see a rainbow, think of all that God may be saying to you through it:
- Promise. I know it’s stormy in your life right now, but I am here. My rainbow reminds you that I will bring you through whatever storms you are enduring.
- Hope. I know you’re in mud up to your ankles right now, but don’t look down. Instead, look up and see My glory. I am here and I am greater than your problems; don’t give up!
- Power. I am the God who created the earth and the God who destroyed it in a flood. I will one day rule the universe with authority and in glory. Trust Me. I have both the power and the plan to get you through whatever difficulty you are dealing with.
- Mercy. I have set my rainbow in the sky to assure you of My great love for you and the mercy and grace extended to you just because you are My child.
So, when the rains of April come, look for rainbows! And allow those rainbows to be reminders of your connection with the King of the Universe who personally relates to each of us.
Blessings!
Bev
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” Psalm 19:1
P.S. If you know of others who would enjoy receiving this newsletter each month, please encourage them to visit my website (www.beverlyvankampen.com), click on the newsletter icon, and enter their e-mail address. I would love to add them to our circle of friends.
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