Oh to be Noah. No pressure right. You only have to build a monstrosity of a sea vessle on land (While everyone laughs at you), bring every little creature and its mate on board (herding cats anyone?), make sure you have enough food for your family and all the animals. AND by the way, I'm going to destroy everything I created, as I promised. Good gravy.
And then there is something wonderful about the promised covenant and signs of that covenant; Never again will the floodwaters destroy all of life. I will hang my bow in the clouds as a sign of this covenant. A bow being a sign of war and destruction, the clouds being a sign of presence and peace.
If God hangs his bow in the cloud as a sign of this covenant, God is giving us a sign that there is an end of destruction and end of God's anger with God's creation. Yet every time there is an earthquake or a raindrop, Christians everywhere begin quoting scripture about God's plan for our destruction.
"When I send clouds over the earth, the rainbow will appear in the clouds, and I will remember my covenant with you and with all living creatures. Never again will the floodwaters destroy all life."
With all the violence, with all the bloodshed, with all the beheadings, the senseless violence, the destruction of life, don't we need to hear this promise? God uses the word remember as a call back to the covenant promise....a promise fulfilled in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This is the hope that surpasses all the present suffering....Until all things are made new!
Lord, guide us into remembering your covenant promise, send clouds as reminders of your presence, and hold us steadfast in our faith that you will make all things new....again! - Amen