Origins: The Beginning (Genesis 1–11)Sample

By Danny Saavedra

“Then God said, ‘I am giving you a sign of my covenant with you and with all living creatures, for all generations to come. I have placed my rainbow in the clouds. It is the sign of my covenant with you and with all the earth. When I send clouds over the earth, the rainbow will appear in the clouds, and I will remember my covenant with you and with all living creatures. Never again will the floodwaters destroy all life.’” Genesis 9:12–15 (NLT)

“Look it’s a rainbow!” Have you ever heard or said this? It’s usually uttered with a hint of glee and excitement. I think we can all agree that when we see a rainbow in the sky, we feel a special little twinge in our hearts. You often see people get excited as they look up and see one. I truly believe this is by design; that the Lord made something so beautiful and radiant to represent His covenant with us. And what was this covenant? “Never again will the floodwaters destroy all life.”

I love how Joseph Barnes so eloquently puts it: “It comes with its mild radiance only when the cloud condenses into a shower. It consists of heavenly light, variegated in hue, and mellowed in luster, filling the beholder with an involuntary pleasure. It forms a perfect arch, extends as far as the shower extends, connects heaven and earth, and spans the horizon. In these respects, it’s a beautiful emblem of mercy rejoicing against judgment, of light from heaven irradiating and beatifying the soul, of grace always sufficient for the need of the reunion of earth and heaven, and of the universality of the offer of salvation.” 

Consider something with me: God made this promise, this covenant, “for all generations to come.” There is a security in a covenant made with God. In this case, Noah and all humanity that came after him can stand secure and unafraid, knowing that God has promised to never destroy all life again through floodwaters. The rainbow reminds us of that. 

In the same way, the covenant God made with us through Christ Jesus, our Passover Lamb, is something we can stand on and be confident in. Our salvation is sealed and our eternity is secure. And the sign of it? It’s our lives! We are the rainbow! Christ-follower, let that sink in: you are the rainbow, the sign of the new covenant God made with us through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. 

If people want a sign of the validity of the promise, of the certainty of salvation, they need only look at your life. Through you, His mercy is evident: His light shines into the darkness, and His grace changes how we think, speak, and act. Hebrews 1:3 (NIV) tells us, “the Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being.” If we are in Christ, then that same radiance is meant to burst forth from us like a rainbow shines after a storm. 

DIG: Why do you think God chose a rainbow to represent His promise?

DISCOVER: How does the promise of the rainbow parallel the promise of salvation?

DO: Be like a rainbow today. Radiate the glory of Christ in you, and shine the colorful, vibrant, irresistible beauty of the gospel for all to see.