Follow God's Rainbow Home

Genesis 9:8-13 – Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him: "I now establish my covenant with you and with your descendants after you and with every living creature that was with you — the birds, the livestock and all the wild animals, all those that came out of the ark with you — every living creature on earth. I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be cut off by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth." 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: I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. (NIV)

The weather has been as contrary and unpredictable as the politicians here in the Washington, DC, area for the past few weeks. I think we have had everything but drought and snow and sleet. It was hot, sticky and humid, and then a Canadian cold front (thanks!) rushed in, bringing tremendous lightning and thunderstorms and flash flooding, leaving us with us cool weather free of humidity — and el fresco dining all around the city.

It was Friday afternoon of the July 4th week, but even with the day off in the middle, it still seemed like a long week to me. Work had been long and busy and stressful, with the start-up of a new non-profit organization and all of the angst that accompanies a new venture.

I had just taken the founder of the agency to his home and was returning. It had been raining off and on, and drivers were zipping along. Driving is never fun in "DC", but it is especially dreadful when it's raining and it's a Friday rush hour.

Fortunately for me, I have been in the midst of a personal spiritual breakthrough, and had a wee bit more patience than "most" of the other drivers. Also, I have been studying the prayer of Jabez from 1 Chronicles 4:10, so I have been carrying that scripture on a pocket coin to keep it fresh in my mind.

To my surprise, on the return trip, the sun began to shine in the midst of the rain, and a brilliantly colourful rainbow appeared arching completely across the sky.

How peaceful, I thought, as I made my way home. The road I took was a surface route that first went right, then left, then curved and zigged and zagged, and to my utter amazement, so did that rainbow. It led me — following my path, in front of me — to my home. I was sure, had I made a U-turn, that it would have been right there in front of me going in the opposite direction.

The more my path meandered, the more the rainbow stayed right there in front of me, like a beacon guiding me home. How like God in His greatest glory to send a covenant of such splendour to remind us of His presence. He promised Noah that He would not flood the earth again, and His rainbow was a sign that He keeps His word. What a beautiful reminder the rainbow was to me that day that He does indeed keep His word — not just about the flood, but about His love, His grace, His guidance and His presence each and every day.

Prayer: Heavenly maker of the covenant and the rainbows in our lives, may we always see the colourful reminders of Your truth and loving ways as You lead us home. May we always know that when we grow weary from our busy-ness in life, if we stop and be still for a moment, we can find Your covenant all about us in nature. Let Your covenant be a rainbow to our hearts reminding us of Your eternal presence and support of our every need. Amen.

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