MARCH 8, Genesis 9:8-17; Galatians 3:16

“Rain, rain, go away. Come again another day! Little children want to play.” Is this nursery rhyme familiar to you? Had you wished that the rain would go away because you wanted to play in the park? The rain ruined your day and you had to go home. How sad that would be. However, not all rains are sad! After a rain or when the rain has almost come to a stop, something wonderful appears. A beautiful half circle with gorgeous colours. What is it called? A ____________________ (unscramble IAOWRBN). Who but God could have thought of such a lovely thing to remind us of His promise? The promise was never again would it rain such that the whole earth would be covered with water.

The account in the Bible began like this.... At first just a few drops, but before long the rain came thicker and faster. Still, it rained and rained! Bit by bit the water rose. All except those in the ark died. The beautiful world was destroyed. God could not let the wicked people go on living in their wicked ways. Where did all the sin and evil come from? Yes, from the hearts of the people, “And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Genesis 6:5).

Man was wicked. The earth was also filled with violence and was corrupt before God. God was grieved with the world and sent the flood. Noah and his family in the ark were the only human beings saved. After this global catastrophe, God made a promise that the world will be spared from such a great flood, and the rainbow is the sign of this promise. Think of God’s promise every time you see a rainbow!

God also gave us a promise through Christ - it was in God’s plan to give His beloved Son, a descendant or seed of Abraham to be born a human, to die for the sins of the world. He made this promise not because people are good but because He loves us so much. God does not want to destroy men. He desires to save them. Do you believe in Jesus who died for your sins to save you from destruction in hell fire? Do not be like those God-rejecting people that lived during Noah’s time who perished in the flood.

Thought: Thank God for His precious promises!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, You are the God of promises and You freely give them to Your children. I thank You for Your promises. In turn, I promise to walk with Christ and follow Him all my life. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.