Today’s devotion comes from Genesis 9:8-17.
“Then God spoke to Noah and to his sons with him, saying, “Now behold, I Myself do establish My covenant with you, and with your descendants after you; and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the cattle, and every beast of the earth with you; of all that comes out of the ark, even every beast of the earth. I establish My covenant with you; and all flesh shall never again be cut off by the water of the flood, neither shall there again be a flood to destroy the earth.” God said, “This is the sign of the covenant which I am making between Me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all successive generations; I set My bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a sign of a covenant between Me and the earth. It shall come about, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow will be seen in the cloud, and I will remember My covenant, which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and never again shall the water become a flood to destroy all flesh. When the bow is in the cloud, then I will look upon it, to remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” And God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant which I have established between Me and all flesh that is on the earth.” Genesis 9:8-17.
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We love the beauty and meaning of rainbows, that “bow in the cloud” which is God’s sign of the covenant with Noah and His descendants and every living creature that He never destroy the earth again with a flood. But, we may not be aware that through rainbows, God is also revealing some of His glory.
“As the appearance of the rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the surrounding radiance. Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. …” Ezekiel 1:28.
“And He who was sitting was like a jasper stone and a sardius in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald in appearance.” Revelation 4:3.
“I saw another strong angel coming down out of heaven, clothed with a cloud; and the rainbow was upon his head, and his face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire;” Revelation 10:1.
And, we know that there were other covenants in Scripture. But, we may not be aware of the covenant that Scripture introduced through reference of the rainbow covenant in today’s Scripture.
“9 “For this is like the days of Noah to Me,
When I swore that the waters of Noah
Would not flood the earth again;
So I have sworn that I will not be angry with you
Nor will I rebuke you.
10 “For the mountains may be removed and the hills may shake,
But My lovingkindness will not be removed from you,
And My covenant of peace will not be shaken,”
Says the LORD who has compassion on you.” Isaiah 54:9-10.
The blessing of the covenant continues in a new paragraph, but before I continue with the quote, I want to point out that the blessing of God’s protection is figuratively described below as precious stones, which we can infer have the colors of the rainbow. How wonderful that God made His protection so to speak, as hard as diamonds and as beautiful as a rainbow!
“11 “O afflicted one, storm-tossed, and not comforted,
Behold, I will set your stones in antimony,
And your foundations I will lay in sapphires.
12 “Moreover, I will make your battlements of rubies,
And your gates of crystal,
And your entire wall of precious stones.” Isaiah 54:11-12.
The blessings of the covenant continues, but before I continue with the rest of the quote, I want to make both a general point and specific point. Generally, other doctrine views covenants as a mutual agreement between God and man such as if man does his part, then God will do His part. But, Reformed Doctrine views covenants as God’s promises to His elect. Specifically, there are those who teach that the instruction and well-being of their children is dependent on man and they wring their hands as to how few hours a week their children receive Christian teaching. Although few churches emphasize Christian schools and catechisms like Reformed churches, Reformed Doctrine focuses on and trusts God’s promises.
“13 “All your sons will be taught of the LORD;
And the well-being of your sons will be great.
14 “In righteousness you will be established;
You will be far from oppression, for you will not fear;
And from terror, for it will not come near you.
15 “If anyone fiercely assails you it will not be from Me.
Whoever assails you will fall because of you.
16 “Behold, I Myself have created the smith who blows the fire of coals
And brings out a weapon for its work;
And I have created the destroyer to ruin.
17 “No weapon that is formed against you will prosper;
And every tongue that accuses you in judgment you will condemn.
This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD,
And their vindication is from Me,” declares the LORD.” Isaiah 54:13-17.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 