Maya Angelou’s voice (1928-2014), captured on Coldplay’s album, Moon Music, carries ancient wisdom in her gentle voice. An African American spiritual singer who speaks of rainbows appearing when “it looked like the sun wasn’t gonna’ shine anymore. God put a rainbow in the clouds.” Her words trail off with wonder: “And I’ve had so many rainbows in my clouds. I had a lot of clouds, but I have had so many rainbows.” God is still putting rainbows in the skies.
Has the sun stopped shining on you today? Is that how you describe what has happened to you? Well, wait … it may mark the most significant event of your life. There is a rainbow in the clouds for you.
This could be the start of a new PROMISE from your God.
If God has allowed darkness to settle over your life today, He is orchestrating something seismic. Wait for Him. His work remains unfinished. Your rainbow is forming in the clouds.
“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: 13 I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. 14 Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, 15 I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. 16 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.” 17 So God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant I have established between me and all life on the earth.” (Genesis 9 v 12-17)
God could have said, “If man does it again, then they know what is coming again!” But he didn’t. Instead, He painted a rainbow and made a covenant. He chose something that needs both a storm and the sun as a reminder. There are days when we get both, don’t we?
Today, you may wake to your storm clouds gathering; grief and loss are here, and you wonder if you will survive. God has promised you that neither circumstances nor your own behaviour will cause His mercy to protect you. No. But His covenant does.
God keeps His promises.
Remember the rainbow.
What did the Apostle John see on the island of Patmos in his vision (Revelation 4:3)? Trapped on the island, desiring to be free, living at a time of massive oppression from evil Emperors. He sees a rainbow and He remembers the covenant-keeping God.
Between Genesis 9 and Revelation 4 stands another covenant. It is like the rainbow; it has nothing to do with our behaviour or commitment; His grace entirely holds it. It is the new covenant in Christ’s blood; it is the cross.
Your ‘world’ today may not be what you want it to be. You may feel uncertain and wish you were somewhere completely different. You may deserve judgment. You may have experienced floods of anxiety and uncertainty. Look up. There is a covenant in the skies. Don’t marvel at the colours, but at the character of God revealed. He is faithful to His promises. God remembers. If the clouds gather over you today, remember in Him you will not go under, and even if you do, He will raise you.
Missions Paul 