Genesis 9:8-17 (NRSV)
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Verse 8Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him, Verse 9"As for me, I am establishing my covenant with you and your descendants after you, Verse 10and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the domestic animals, and every animal of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark. Verse 11I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of a flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth."
Verse 12God said, "This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: Verse 13I have set my bow in the clouds, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Verse 14When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, Verse 15I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. Verse 16When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth." Verse 17God said to Noah, "This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth."
Devotion
The great flood recorded in the Old Testament (Genesis 9) is an account of God’s judgment upon worldwide godlessness and evil of every kind. God’s love, however, is extended to Noah and his family when He instructed them to build a boat large enough to house Noah’s family and a host of animals. Then God promised never again to blanket the earth with such devastation and offered the rainbow as a sign of His resolve.
There is another sign that assures us even more of God’s love and grace. It is the sign of the cross, where in Christ we are made new people and become inheritors of eternal life. This theme of salvation runs through the entire Bible and it is a source of joy and peace to all believers.
Prayer
Help us, Lord, to trust your promise of salvation. Amen.