by June Friesen
Genesis 9: God said, “I am giving you a sign of my covenant with you and with all living creatures, for all generations to come. 13 I have placed my rainbow in the clouds. It is the sign of my covenant with you and with all the earth. 14 When I send clouds over the earth, the rainbow will appear in the clouds, 15 and I will remember my covenant with you and with all living creatures. Never again will the floodwaters destroy all life. 16 When I see the rainbow in the clouds, I will remember the eternal covenant between God and every living creature on earth.” 17 Then God said to Noah, “Yes, this rainbow is the sign of the covenant I am confirming with all the creatures on earth.”
A sign of God’s forever presence over the earth is still seen in the skies today, usually after a rain. We call it a rainbow possibly for a couple of reasons: 1) a rainbow is often present after a rain and 2) a rainbow is caused by how the sun reflects off of the rain moisture in the atmosphere. As a child growing up, I remember a picture from my Bible lessons in church which showed Noah at an altar with his hands raised towards the heavens where the rainbow was extended across the sky. This is a recent photo I took not seeing the arch of light over the trees nor did I see the ‘dead tree’ which someone pointed out to me looks as if someone is extending their arms heaven wards to God. As I ponder, meditate and pray for our world and particularly our country, I cannot help but be challenged by this photo to also stand with my arms raised heavenward seeking God’s presence and light over me.
EMBRACE GOD’S PRESENCE OF LIGHT
“God, where are you in this darkness that seems to prevail?
I feel so alone.
I feel abandoned.
I feel as if I am dying.
I am waiting….
I am looking….
I am reaching upwards…..
Are you there…….
Where are you…..
Ah…….
What is that I see?
A covering of Your presence over this darkness…
But also over me…….
Thank you God, for your gift of hope –
I lift my heart and my hands to you –
I receive into my spirit and my being your hope today.
Amen.