The Ark and Jesus: The Promise of Peace

Genesis 9:12-17

In the TV show "The Chosen", when Jesus is talking to Nicodemus on the roof, He says, "The human eye is drawn to light. We can't help it, it just happens." I like that line because it is true on several levels. Without getting too nerdy, everything we see is because of the reflection and absorption of light. We enjoy a beautiful landscape because of the light that reflects to our eyes. God designed it this way. Just as we are drawn to light, so God chose to use light to illustrate and illuminate several of His promises.

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And God said: “This is the sign of the covenant which I make between Me and you, and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth. It shall be, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the rainbow shall be seen in the cloud; and I will remember My covenant which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. The rainbow shall be in the cloud, and I will look on 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 9:12-17

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One such promise is a promise of peace. After destroying all life on earth that was not safe within the ark, God made a covenant that He would never again destroy the world in this way. Unlike pagan deities who were famous for their deceit, God is faithful and true. The writer of Hebrews said, God cannot lie (Hebrews 6:18).

Is it any wonder that the biggest fear of unbelievers is that the world will once again be flooded? So-called "global warming" is purported to eventually cause the polar ice caps to melt. This will cause sea levels to rise, and there will be massive global flooding. Isn't it interesting that the same people who do not believe God could flood the earth believe that man somehow has the power to flood the earth with carbon dioxide?

God promised that the world would never again be flooded. As evidence and a reminder of this promise, He gave us the rainbow. A rainbow is caused by the bending of light through the water in our atmosphere. The same water that destroyed the earth was used to create the sign of God's promise that He would never again destroy all life on the earth with water. The instrument of destruction became the instrument of promise.

God did not say He would not destroy the earth again. Actually, His Word says the opposite. At the end of the age, God will destroy the earth again, but this time with fire. What will be the source of this fire? Jesus will be. The world will be cleansed from the curse and consequences of sin by fire. A new Heaven and a new earth will be created and the Prince of Peace will reign for all eternity. Death, the grave, and all the wicked will be judged. After this there will only be perfect peace for the redeemed of God. The instrument of destruction will not just be the instrument of peace but will be peace incarnate. Just as light shines through the water to make the rainbow, so light will come from Jesus for all eternity. It should also be noted that in Revelation 4:1, there is a rainbow around God's throne.

Peace in eternity is certainly something to look forward to, but Jesus wants to give us peace now also. Inside the ark, Noah, his family, and the animals went about their daily routines. Sure, life for them changed aboard the ark, but they had peace in the midst of the storm that was raging outside. Peace is not the absence of conflict, but rather it is having a calm spirit in the midst of the conflict. It requires a trust in something greater than yourself. When the world is raging around us, we can have peace because our trust is in Jesus who is greater than we are, and greater than our problems. He is the light of the world, and the rainbow of reminder that we do not have to fear troubles, trials, judgment, or death.

Father, thank You for the rainbow. It is beautiful to look at and comforting to understand Your promise that is wrapped in the bow. More than the peace from knowing that the world will never be flooded again, I pray that each one reading this knows the peace from knowing that they do not ever have to face Your judgment. I pray that they have the peace that is found in Jesus, our Prince of Peace.