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Genesis 9:11-17 – Rain and Remembering
Lots and lots of rain has deluged us of late. Truth be told, the rain has been needed, even if it has been hard. So I thought I would go down memory lane and take you along for the ride. Prayerfully the memory will turn into remembering.
In times past, my children and I would ride our bikes to their school. One such day, after we had ridden that morning, I noticed it was going to rain that afternoon. Being dutiful, I went early to their school to pack the bikes into the car. Sure enough, when it came time to ride home, it rained rather hard.
Rachel, who got out earlier than Ashley’s pre-school, arrived from her classroom all bundled in her rain-coat, excited we were going to ride home in the rain!
Surprisingly, she was disappointed, not appreciative of my dutifulness.
When asked why I did what I did, I informed her I did not want to ride home in the rain. Now what question do you think a normal child would next ask? “Why don’t you want to ride in the rain?” Obviously she had no problem with it!
The practical man suggested that riding bikes in the rain is not good for the bikes. The real reason however, the real difference between this then 32 year old versus that then eight year old was – I am an adult; you are a child. Children enjoy rain…especially puddles. They see adventure. We see laundry. They see being wet as great fun. We see being wet as being itchy, cold, and uncomfortable. It’s possible she might have changed her mind had we ridden our bikes in the rain and become miserable. It’s possible I might have changed my mind and had the time of my life!
Can we remember the last time we went out alone to walk in the gentle rain, our faces uplifted, to let its freshness fall upon our cheeks? And, as we walked, did it dawn on our grown-up hearts that this was a gentle reminder that all good gifts come from our Father? And yet He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good and gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.” (Acts 14:17).
On another day, the sky was an admixture of clouds and sunshine, producing a double rainbow. My sons thought that was awesome (a word they like to use)! Janet asked them if they knew what the rainbow signified? While they now know, when we first were blessed by their adoption, they didn’t. She explained to them the significance of God’s promise. What a gentle reminder God chose for a tumultuous time.
Read the following please: “I establish My covenant with you; and all flesh shall never again be cut off by the water of the flood, neither shall there again be a flood to destroy the earth.” God said, “This is the sign of the covenant which I am making between Me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all successive generations; I set My bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a sign of a covenant between Me and the earth. “It shall come about, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow will be seen in the cloud, and I will remember My covenant, which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and never again shall the water become a flood to destroy all flesh. “When the bow is in the cloud, then I will look upon it, to remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” And God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant which I have established between Me and all flesh that is on the earth.” (Genesis 9:11-17)
Never again has God flooded the earth. Local flooding still happens such as where my sister Wendy lives. Everyday in Texas, for about a week, it has rained. Everyday there is news of someone who has been “swept away.” Everyday some have water standing in the basement. Everyday God has still kept His promise. Put that local flooding into perspective of an entire world flooding!
God says He will look at the rainbow and remember. He still does. Do we ever see a rainbow and not remember? Living in Florida we saw them often, maybe so often they could become humdrum. Are we more impressed with the colors or the God who colored the sky?
God is declaring Himself daily. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made…. (Romans 1:20)
May we look at the rain and remember God’s blessings. May we look at the rainbows and remember His promises. May we always look and remember God. And may we remember what it is like to be a child and try to enjoy the rain.
Questions:
What are some other ways we can look around and remember God?
Can you remember other of God’s uses of water found in the Bible?
Prayer: Ask God to help you always remember and never take any blessing for granted.
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