Sunday Sermon Summary – Feb 18 2024

Genesis 9: 8-17

The Rainbow – A Love Sign from God

In Genesis chapter 9 we read about the first Rainbow that appeared in the sky. Before the flood, there was no rain.  A canopy covered the earth.  People lived hundreds of years.  God found Noah and his family of eight righteous and who feared God. 

1.  Punishment
Genesis 9:5

For the sake of eight faithful people God sent a flood.  He protected one family and all living creatures. By Faith Abraham obeyed God, not knowing what God was about to do he built the ark in obedience. (Hebrews 11:7) God is a just God. He will fight for His faithful followers.  He who touches you, touches the eye of God.  This is a great encouragement for us who faithfully follow God. Hell was not made for humans.  It was made for the Devil and his angels.(Matthew 25:41)  When Jesus was teaching about the last days, He said it will be like the days of Noah (Matthew 24:37)  God is mindful of us every moment.  Do not be deceived, God is not mocked. Whatever a person sows that he will reap. (Galatians 6:7) 

2.  Pity
Genesis 9:11

Though God wiped out all humans by the flood; still He pitied them. His mercy endures forever. God promised that He will never again wipe out all humanity with a flood. He also placed the Rainbow in the sky and said whenever I see the rainbow I’ll remember that I will have pity on you.  God had mercy on everyone who was drowned in the flood. So many centuries later, when God sent His Son Jesus Christ to die on the cross, the Holy Scriptures tell us that when Jesus died, He was revived in His spirit and He went and preached to the spirits that were in prison.  These are the spirits that died in the flood because of disobedience. (1 Peter 3:20). 

3.  Promise
Genesis 9:16

God promised Noah and his family that He will continue to commune with them. He said whenever I see the Rainbow I will remember my promise. Whenever we see a Rainbow in the sky, we must be reminded of God’s promise to us.  Even through the prophet Isaiah God said that His promise never to rebuke his people will stand as the waters of Noah. (Isaiah 54:9). God always keeps His promises. 

Just as He placed the rainbow in the sky, God has put many other reminders for us to remind us that He takes care of us.  It could be anything; it could be a bookmark with a promise, it could be a house or children or parents or friends.  

May we trust God and believe in His promise to take care of us. Amen