Dear Readers and Listeners, Friends in Jesus Christ,
Our watchword for today is taken from the Book of Genesis, Chapter 9 verses, 9 to 11, “God said to Noah: As for Me, I am establishing my covenant with you and your descendants after you, and with every living creature, that never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth,” (NRSVB). Noah was a man who respected God and called on the people around him to refrain from living lives that disrespected God and the neighbour. However, they did not listen to Noah, despite his calls and his big building project of the Ark that must have taken quite a number of years. God protected Noah and all who went with him in the ark from the calamities of the outside world. After the flood God continued to bless and protect Noah and those who went with him into the ark. Instead of seeing ominous dark clouds in the sky, Noah saw the rainbow, spanning the whole world under its arch. The symbol of the ark and the presence of the Ark in the Tabernacle reminded Israel of God’s presence and his commandments. After the frightening storms of life, through the clouds, a rainbow appears, reminding us that God’s covenant of care and blessing cannot be destroyed. The arch of the rainbow envelopes the earth and reflects God’s grace and smile on his beloved children and the creatures of the world. When God created the world, he saw that it was good, very good, and he blessed this world and her people and promised that the Saviour would come to set all things right. God’s rainbows still fill the skies and remind us of God’s promises. When we look up at the rainbows that arch over the world and smile on us, gleaming in the sunlight, we can rest assured. Despite the deluge of fearful news and the storms that gather across the world, God will protect us in the Ark of the Faith and Grace that he gives us anew, every day, through the love and work of his Son.
The Apostle Paul wrote in his Letter to the Colossians, Chapter One verse 23, “Do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven,” (NRSVB). The word “gospel” means good news or a good message that is being received. The angels, in proclaiming the birth of Jesus, told the shepherds not to be afraid because they were bringing them good news and glad tidings. Everyone feels uplifted when good news reaches one’s down-casted spirit. In these times of great uncertainty and messages of unrest and turmoil, our souls long to hear good news. Through the messages of scripture, displayed in so many tangible ways in the world we live in, we can be comforted. We find God, and his love for us, described between the pages of his word. We can look up in the sky and see his clouds of rain and his rainbow. We hear the birds sing and see the flowers bloom. These are gifts of nature to remind us of the greatness of our Lord. The gospel has been given in the hearts of humanity. Times of great sorrow and anxiety throughout the history of the world attest to people drawing closer to God calling on him to save them from danger. When Jonah had to go and preach repentance to the great city of Nineveh, he took a boat in the opposite direction, for he did not believe that God should spare the enemies of Israel. A fierce storm broke and the captain of the ship called on each man to pray to his own god for safety, for he was sure that they were going under. Within the hearts of humans God has created the need and capacity to seek him and to find him. The signs of God’s promises are all around us to encourage us at every turn of our way, that God cares and will not leave us unprotected, he has created a covering of blessing over us.
Father, we thank you that you have created the earth, the cycles and the happenings in nature to bring us to seek and find you as they proclaim your love for us, Amen.