Thy will be Done...the Wayfarer 3/15/19

 

 

God Put a Rainbow in the Cloud

 

Genesis 9:11-17 King James Version (KJV)

¹¹ And I will establish my covenant with you, neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth.

¹² And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations:

¹³ I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth.

¹⁴ And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud:

¹⁵ And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.

¹⁶ And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth.

¹⁷ And God said unto Noah, This is the token of the covenant, which I have established between me and all flesh that is upon the earth.

 

The history of Noah, and the flood has been recounted innumerable times, and is found in the histories of the peoples of the world around that world.

Far too often it is recognized only as history, a part of the past that bears little relevance to the present or the future.

Often that history neglects the reason that the flood was sent, as that reason would be inconvenient to any who could see the relativity of occurrences then and now.

Also forgotten, neglected and diminished in importance by a society that would relegate that history to being mere myth, were the means of mankind’s survival of that flood only through the faith and obedience that led to the granting of God’s grace to Noah that allowed that continuance of a race still inhabiting a world, granted a reprieve only because of that grace given.

The covenant established between God, Noah, and his descendants, remains in effect, unforgotten by God, still in force despite the violations of that covenant by the other parties almost from the day it was given.

Today’s title comes from a song I have heard more than a few times at various meetings in sundry places that celebrates that covenant and its continuance, celebrates the extension of Promise despite the continued forgetfulness of the warning given with that promise over the continuance of time since its first having been given.

Copyrighted in 1931, it was written by Rev. Andrew Jenkins and owned by R.E. Wisnsett of Dayton Tennessee.

 

“When God shut Noah in the grand old ark, He put a rainbow in the cloud;

When the thunders rolled and the sky was dark, God put a rainbow in the cloud.

Away down yonder in Egypt’s sand, God put a rainbow in the cloud;

Just to lead His children to the promised land, God put a rainbow in the cloud.

When they put old Daniel in the Lion’s den, God put a rainbow in the cloud;

Just to prove his promise to the sons of men, God put a rainbow in the cloud.

As a sign by day and a sign by night, God put a rainbow in the cloud;

Just to guide His people and to keep them right, God put a rainbow in the cloud.

O Jordan deep and Jordan wide, God put a rainbow in the cloud;

To lead His people to the other side, God put a rainbow in the cloud.

God put a rainbow in the cloud. God put a rainbow in the cloud;

When it looked like the sun wouldn’t shine any more….God put a rainbow in the cloud.”

 

The rainbow of the reminder of the Promise is still with us.

So too should the remembrance of why that rainbow was given be remembered, and what led up to the covenant it signified.

 

Genesis 6:1-7

King James Version (KJV)

6 And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them,

² That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.

³ And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.

⁴ There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.

⁵ 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.

⁶ And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.

⁷ And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.

 

The circumstances that led to the need of the establishment of that covenant that has since been so violated, replicated themselves continually despite the history that proved that the third verse of this passage had been given in warning, and was brought to fruition, also continues today bringing with it the reminder of the violation of all the covenants given and the consequences of their violation, also a matter of history for any and all willing to bring them to remembrance.

The final covenant given us, the last to be given also remains in effect.

The Promise given us through that covenant established for the salvation of each individual soul through the birth, life, ministry, crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus that IS that promise remains for those, who, like Noah, hear the warning and accept the promise of the grace delivered only through that promise.

The warning also remains in effect.

 

 Matthew 24:32-42King James Version (KJV)

³² Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:

³³ So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.

³⁴ Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.

³⁵ Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

³⁶ But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

³⁷ But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

³⁸ For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,

³⁹ And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

⁴⁰ Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

⁴¹ Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

⁴² Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

 

The rainbow in the cloud remains that Promise is given, the cloud that remains is that that promise goes unheard along with the warning that has also been given.

“Repent! For the kingdom of heaven is at hand”

Amen, and Amen

CMc