Genesis 9:8-17 (NRSV)
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Verse 8Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him, Verse 9"As for me, I am establishing my covenant with you and your descendants after you, Verse 10and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the domestic animals, and every animal of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark. Verse 11I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of a flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth."
Verse 12God said, "This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: Verse 13I have set my bow in the clouds, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Verse 14When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, Verse 15I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. Verse 16When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth." Verse 17God said to Noah, "This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth."
Devotion
Here we read the covenantal command/promise where our sovereign God speaks a word binding together every living thing: “a covenant … between me and all flesh that is on the earth.”
But did humankind ever live flawless lives? The survivors of the great deluge had scarcely dried off the flood water before they were at it again. It’s the old, old story. But here in this brief, shining episode is what God intends. God renews the blessing given at creation. Whatever else, we are made in the divine image. So shall we live. So shall we live with one another!
Do we become stressed when we see around us a maelstrom of deceit, deception and disloyalty? Look rather to the Word of the Covenant Maker who still intends to use a divinely chosen race, a royal priesthood. Look to the rainbow. The Promise stands. You are God’s own people. Press on.
Prayer
O mighty Sovereign, lover of justice, you have established equity; you have executed justice and righteousness; remind us anew that we are people of your promise. Help us so to live in Christ. Amen.