Genesis 9:8-11, 16 (NIV) 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 destroyed by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth.” Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.
Growing up in Bryan, Texas, I smiled every time I glimpsed a rainbow. Even as an adult, I pause in wonder, whenever I see them. Sunlight consists of the colors of the rainbow. When the array of colors is all combined together it is called white light. When sunlight travels in the same direction we observe white light. As the sunlight enters through a raindrop the colors separate causing us to see a rainbow. Each raindrop creates its own rainbow; however, it requires millions of raindrops for us to observe a rainbow.
We can only witness a rainbow when exact conditions are met. According to weather.com, “Rainbows will only occur when the refracted sunlight strikes the raindrop’s edge at the exact angle of 48 degrees. If the angle is less than 48 degrees, then the light will simply pass through the raindrop. Any greater than 48º, then the light reflects straight back out of the raindrop, and no refraction will occur. Without refraction a rainbow will not form.”
Just as the rainbow is hidden in white light, God is also invisible, but His glory shines forth in all of creation. His radiance breaks through like the sun rising at the dawn.
Not only does the Lord reveal Himself in creation; He sealed a covenant with a rainbow. The Father promised Noah that He would never destroy the world again by water. We witness our king’s majesty each time we open our eyes.
Prayer: Father, thank you for the wonders of your creation. From rainbows bursting out of each water drop to the unbelievable power of black holes, we behold God’s glory. We praise you that the faithfulness of the Lord to Noah remains evident to us in each rainbow. Amen.
Nathan
More resources available: http://www.ccclampasas.org/sermons/
Sources:
- http://www.kidsplayandcreate.com/rainbow-facts-for-kids/
- https://weather.com/science/news/skywatching-double-rainbow-20130513