A rainbow above his head
by Pastor Jim Strelan
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He was robed in a cloud, with a rainbow above his head; his face was like the sun and his legs were like fiery pillars (Revelation 10:1b).
Read Revelation 10:1–11
How are you going with these Revelation readings? These past chapters have been pretty frightening. Remember that the purpose of this book is primarily to encourage Christians who are increasingly under the threat of persecution and living in a context where the worship of the true God is challenged by contrary ideas. So, as I mentioned in an earlier devotion, look for the gems.
This chapter begins with a description of an angel. It describes the angel with a rainbow around his head, his face like the sun and legs like fiery pillars. Sounds like a good angel to me. It depicts the God who saves, the God who protects. We can recall the rainbow Noah witnessed after the great flood and the accompanying promise that never again will there be such universal destruction. And the sun sheds its light and shows the way. And the legs like pillars of fire remind us of how when the sun wasn’t shining, there was still light as God went before and behind the people of Israel when they were led out of the slavery of Egypt.
So, in all the mayhem, in all the fury and destruction, the God who saves is part of the scenario. We don’t know the message of this angel clearly, but we know that the protecting and saving God is at work. A bit like your life and mine. It can seem like there is no answer – like everything is against you and this year couldn’t possibly be as bad as last year – but God stands with the rainbow above his head, shining like the sun, his legs as fiery pillars to reveal the way ahead. You can read these chapters of Revelation and be afraid of what it might mean. Or you can take comfort: whatever it refers to, a present struggle between good and evil or a future one, God will not abandon you and all those who worship him.
God of heaven and earth, I know that you go before me to show the way and are behind me to see if I fall and pick me up again. When things are scary, help me focus on that. Amen.
Pastor Jim is a retired pastor living on Brisbane Northside. He served in Papua New Guinea and as school pastor in a number of schools and congregations with schools. He is married to Ruth and has three children and seven grandchildren and loves them all unconditionally. He loves to share the gospel as simply and clearly as he can.
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