A Purely Spitirual Thought…

Posted on February 03, 2007 by Ronald T. Brown, Ph.D.

“And it shall come to pass, when I bring clouds over the earth, that the rainbow shall be seen in the clouds…” (Genesis 9:14)

We know the background of this Biblical test – the catastrophe of the flood had overwhelmed the world. Only the feeble Ark, and those inside it, had escaped. After being shut in the Ark for about a year, the few survivors walked out and entered the vast and silent world which was slowly re-emerging from the fatal deluge. How lonely they must have felt. The events that surround the flood remind me that, in spite of appearances to the contrary, God still has a plan for this bankrupt world. To be sure, there will be times of thunder and lightening. We have no promise the earth will be a paradise just yet – but what we can know is that whatever happens, however dreadful, the blessings of God remain. His gracious, yet many times hidden, hand will continue to rest upon us.

When I look at the evil mounting in this world, I sometimes wonder whether the hand of God is really stronger than the fist of evil. I think of Believers being persecuted and martyred for their faith, the death of so many innocent civilians in war torn countries, and the festering hate building in lands far off and near. Indeed, there is a growing darkness that surrounds our world.

But the above text has something to say about all this. “And it shall come to pass...” The suggestion of this verse is that something is coming. And the Bible says the “it” will be “clouds.” Scripture does not tell us what the clouds will be, or where the lightening will strike. It just says something will come. Perhaps what we have spent years building will be swept away tomorrow, or perhaps “it” will be the loss of our health, or something very different. But the clouds will come.

Yet the text also provides encouragement – for God says, “I am the one who causes (or allows) clouds to pass over the earth.” What happens is not a blind “it”, or fate of chance. Though our understanding may be hindered by the clouds and lightning – in spite of every appearance to the contrary, our way will always lead to God’s gracious rainbow. It is precisely in the “clouds”, in the depths of the storm, that we will see that God’s promises remain true. That the rainbow always shines, if we will just look up.

We are those who live by the surprises and miracles of God. The rainbow is a sign of God’s promises. May we have eyes which look past the clouds God sends our way, to fix on the promise of the rainbow.