The rainbow
Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord…..
Ezekiel 1:28 (NIV)
The rainbow gives us a glimpse of the power and wonder of God. It is first mentioned in Genesis 9:13-16 when God established a covenant between Noah and his descendants and every living creature that came out of the Ark: “Never again will all life be destroyed by waters of a flood…I have set my rainbow in the clouds…” (vv.11, 13).
Thousands of years later God has kept his word and maintained the rainbow. What a splendid, wonderful sight it is to see; no one can ignore it, but how does it appear?
All colour is contained in white light, and as the light from the Sun hits raindrops or mist they act as a prism, dividing the white light into seven colours of the rainbow which are: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. Of these, three are primary colours: red, yellow and blue.
On a sunny day children can have fun recreating a rainbow themselves. You need a spray bottle or a hose pipe that can make a fine mist of water. Stand with your back to the Sun and with your spray bottle or hose pipe spray the water into the air. You might have to move the water around to find the best angle to make a rainbow.
The rainbow reinforces our trust in God’s faithfulness, because since the Flood rainbows still appear quite frequently, reminding us of God’s covenant with Noah, and the new beginning after the flood, a restoration which Jesus Christ will ultimately fulfil at his return to Earth. And as Ezekiel 1:28 points out, it reminds us of God’s glory, radiance, reliability, beauty, power and presence.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you for being who you are, and that we can
always count on you because you are true to your word in all you do. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Study by Michael Burrows
About the writer:
Michael Burrows is a regular reader of Word of Life, and is married to a church member who attends the Southampton congregation of Grace Communion International.
Local congregation:
Hythe & Dibden Parish Hall
West St
Hythe
Southampton
SO45 6AA
Local congregation contact:
Peter Noon
Email: southampton@gracecom.church
Word of Life contact:
wordoflife@gracecom.church