The Promise

Sometimes God shows up in the quiet whisper of the wind. And sometimes he shows up in the radiant beauty of the rainbow.

At a niece’s wedding on Saturday, we saw heavy rain and for a very short time, some very hard wind, otherwise, just a quiet whisper. As we huddled in the building watching the rain from doors and windows, we marveled at the strength of the rain coming down. But when the rainbows came out; “Wow” cannot describe the beauty that the Lord unveiled for us at that wedding. First there was one rainbow. Then two. Then on the lower rainbow pictured, there were actually five complete rainbows, one above the other. I didn’t get a picture of that because I was too busy marveling at it.

I can’t help thinking of the people in Texas, Florida, the Dominican Republic and other countries being bombarded by hurricanes right now and all the flooding that is taking place. They have to wonder if the end of the world is coming. In Genesis 9:11-13, after the flood, God makes a covenant with Noah, “I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.” And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: I have set my bow (ESV Strong’s definition for bow is rainbow, strength or figure of might) in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth.”

I’m not in Houston or Florida or anywhere near where a hurricane could happen. I’m in the middle of the country, far from oceans and hurricanes. All I can do is pray for those who are in the paths of these storms. And send what aid I can. And remind us all that water will never end our world again. Not even 60 inches of rain. God has promised.

For me, seeing that unbelievably beautiful rainbow on Saturday, I felt like God was saying, “I am here. I see you. I am involved in your lives whether you see me or not. I give you beauty because I love you. Remember my promise. The world will not be destroyed by water, no matter how many hurricanes or record rainfalls there are. See the figure of my might, the rainbow? See what I created for you. See the Creator. I love you.”

He is present in Texas, Florida, the Dominican Republic, India, and the world. We don’t know His plans, we don’t know why some die and some survive, why some experience hurricanes and others are missed. But we do know that God keeps His promises. He doesn’t leave us. He doesn’t forsake us. I’m guessing that many of the people of Houston feel He has forsaken them. I certainly could see myself thinking that. Deuteronomy 31:8 says; It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.

I believe in years to come, these same people will be able to look back and see God’s presence and where God protected and provided through the people of this nation and world. In the meantime, He sends the rainbow to remind, to reassure, and to bless us.

Thank you Lord for rainbows in the clouds.