Wednesday January 14, 2009 NEVER AGAIN
God said, "This is the sign of the promise I am giving to you and every living being that is with you for generations to come. I will put my rainbow in the clouds to be a sign of my promise to the earth. Whenever I form clouds over the earth, a rainbow will appear in the clouds. Then I will remember my promise to you and every living animal. Never again will water become a flood to destroy all life. Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember my everlasting promise to every living animal on earth." Genesis 9:12-16 This "promise" or "covenant" is a key to grasping what the Old Testament teaches about the character of our God. According to the 365 Day Devotional Commentary, by Lawrence O. Richards, "In Old Testament times a covenant was a formal contract, intended to make an agreement legally binding. In international affairs a covenant was a treaty. In a nation's life it served as a constitution. In business a covenant was a contract. In personal relationships it was a commitment. "Most covenants in ancient times were two-party agreements. That is, each person or group involved specified what he or she would do to carry out the agreement. If one side failed to perform, the agreement was broken, and the other side was no longer obligated. "Yet, look at God's covenant with Noah. It is pure promise! God made no conditions. There are no "ifs." Instead God simply said, 'I now make a commitment to you and your descendants. Never again. Never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth.'" Whatever humanity may do, God remains committed to this promise made to Noah. God promised that the rainbow was to serve as a reminder to Him and us of this specific covenant. But the rainbow means something else to us; the rainbow is a reminder of the character of God and the nature of our relationship with Him, it reminds us that God comes to us with promises, not demands; that His grace makes commitments to us that do not depend on our performance. We may fail God, but He will never fail us. Rainbows have always been special to me, even when certain groups have tried to make them all their own, and other people have tried to make something ugly out of them. They belong to God and His people. They are a promise and I will cling to that promise. How about you? Father, I cling to the promise that You will not forsake me or destroy the earth again in anger. I keep a rainbow on my refrigerator to remind me not to destroy my family in anger. Thank You for leading me to do that. I love you Lord. Amen! O. Addison Gethers e-mail address : [email protected] or [email protected] window live messenger: [email protected] aim: durangoadd64 skype: cowboys62 yahoo messenger: OADDISONGETHERS --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Deaf-Blind Inspirational Life Group" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/DBILG?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
