The same again – but different

‘I am putting my bow in the clouds. It will be the sign of my covenant with the world. Whenever I cover the sky with clouds and the rainbow appears, I will remember my promise to you and to all the animals that a flood will never again destroy all living beings. When the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between me and all living beings on earth.’  (verses 13-16)

Read Genesis 9:1-17

In Eden God had set up the relationship between people and animals and between people and himself. Now he does it again. It is an ‘everlasting covenant’, reflecting his grace but also the changed nature of humanity. People still have power over animals, but animals will now live in fear of people. People will now eat animals for food – with God’s permission. And human beings, created to live in harmony with each other, are to punish those who take human life by taking theirs – a life for a life.

On his side, God promises never to destroy all living beings with a flood again. This must have been a relief for the animals, which had suffered greatly because of evil people and the resulting flood!

The establishing of the covenant shows that relationships can never be the same again – unless God acts to do something about the situation. We know that he has done so, and, as a result, we live in his grace. Creation continues to suffer, however, at human hands, as greed, ambition and an almost insane desire for ‘progress’ see us destroying the only home we have, causing many species of creatures to disappear.

One day, when Jesus returns, all will be made right again. Until then, we can only do our best to restore things, imperfectly.

Father, help me to be more aware of my responsibility for your creation. Amen.

by Robert Turnbull, in ‘God’s Promises for each Day’ (LCA, Openbook, 1999)

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