The rain hadn’t let up all morning but was beginning to slow down as I drove to work. A steady drizzle kept the windshield wet while in the distance I could see the sun trying to peek through. Then, to my delight, vivid rays of color appeared in the sky forming a magnificent arch extending almost from one side of the horizon to the other. The rainbow. Without hesitation I pulled to the side of the road so that I could admire God’s perfect work of art.

I wonder if there is anyone who has not been stopped in their tracks to stare with child-like wonder at a rainbow after a summer rain. The vivid arcs of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet suspended in a summer sky never cease to fascinate me.

Scientists tell us that the rainbow is the result of the atmosphere being filled with raindrops, each serving as a prism. When sunlight passes through the raindrops at just the right angle, the light from the sun gets split into the spectrum of colors resulting in the rainbow. It is no less a miracle for scientists being able to explain it.

The first rainbow that appeared in the world was God’s gift to Noah and his family. God had caused a great flood that covered the earth, destroying every living thing. The only safe place was the ark that Noah built. After the flood, Noah and his family came out of the ark along with the animals that had been protected. God made a covenant with Noah, his descendants and with every living creature that had been in the ark that He would never again flood the earth to kill all life. As a sign of the covenant, God set that first perfect rainbow in the sky. (Genesis 9:8 – 17) Whenever they saw a rainbow, they would remember God’s promise.

Another rainbow is described in the bible. About 597 B.C. the priest Ezekiel saw visions of Heaven. He saw the Lord with a brilliant light surrounding Him. The light was a rainbow of color. (Ezekiel 1:28)

When the apostle John visited Heaven in his vision, he described a rainbow that surrounded the throne of God. (Revelation 4:3)

Again in Revelation 10:1, John records a mighty angel who came down from heaven. He was robed in a cloud with a rainbow above his head. This angel, carrying a message of divine authority, reflected the glory of the throne of God.

The rainbow is a symbol of God’s faithfulness and His authority. When we see it set in the sky, it is a sign of His promise. So, as I take time to contemplate the beauty of the rainbow, I am awe struck to realize that it is placed there as a message of God’s faithfulness and that it is a reflection of the rainbow that surrounds the throne in Heaven.

A Walk With the Women of the Bible EBook by Lynne Chapman Join me in getting to know some amazing women of the Bible while we extract valuable insights and lessons from their lives. Now available for Kindle under new title A Walk With EVE Also availble in paperback from Cafe Press.

Names of God Ebook Almighty God. The Creator of heaven and earth. Our God is given names in Scripture that describe the characteristics of His personality. Experience God through the names given Him in Scripture.