A Sign of His Covenant

A Sign of His Covenant

Genesis 9.12-16

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."

By Genesis 9, God has already established a few covenants with mankind. He promised Adam the covering of sins via the coats of skin in Genesis 3.21. For more information on this, see here. He had also promised Noah and his family redemption from the destruction of the earth(Genesis 6.18). In Genesis 9, we see another covenant between God and man, this time in the sign of a rainbow. God “set [His] rainbow in the clouds, and it [is] the sign of the covenant between [him] and the earth.” Whenever God “[brings] clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, [He remembers His] covenant between [Him] and [Creation].” He promises that “never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life.”

There is a lesson to be learned from the giving of the covenant here in Genesis 9—God's promises are clear and personal. In both the Old and New Testaments, God aims His promises to direct, individual men who are willing to serve Him. The rainbow is a rather simple but elegant display of the Lord's promises. Even today we can look up and smile at the faithfulness of God.

But God has made a covenant with us, beloved—a covenant of grace. That continues to unfold each day. We see it in our failures, mistakes, anger, bitterness, joy, love, and elation. Like a rainbow, that covenant arches over us, as if to shield us from our sinful nature. Each color demonstrates how, though there are many different facets of our lives, each one is present in God's promise. He has everything we need covered—we need only to trust Him.

I'm sure God's covenant with you will never cease so long as you choose to remain in Him. Remember His promises each day. Write them down or think about them. What is it God has for you today that will bring Him glory? Amen.

Happy Thanksgiving!

With love in Christ,


Austin Aldrich