COVENANT – Part 1
Covenant is another interesting word in its root and meaning. It has a legal definition as a promise to engage in or refrain from a specified activity. It has a religious or spiritual meaning of and alliance or agreement made by God with a community of faith. It is considered a sacred and on-going promise. A promise can be for one specific commitment but a covenant represents a longer term commitment in an ongoing relationship. God is a God of long term relationships with his creation in humanity. The history of His people find the strength and faith of His covenant with us. In Genesis where we read the account of Noah and the great flood. God has moved to judgement against the sin of His people and yet Genesis 6:8 says “Noah found favor with God.” God gives Noah instructions for building the ark and promises Noah and covenant with him after the judgement.
Genesis 6:17-18 (NLT) 17 “Look! I am about to cover the earth with a flood that will destroy every living thing that breathes. Everything on earth will die. 18 But I will confirm my covenant with you.
In Genesis 9 we read of God’s fulfillment of His promise to Noah in the physical covenant of the rainbow
Genesis 9: 12-17 (NLT) 12 Then God said, “I am giving you a sign of my covenant with you and with all living creatures, for all generations to come. 13 I have placed my rainbow in the clouds. It is the sign of my covenant with you and with all the earth. 14 When I send clouds over the earth, the rainbow will appear in the clouds, 15 and I will remember my covenant with you and with all living creatures. Never again will the floodwaters destroy all life. 16 When I see the rainbow in the clouds, I will remember the eternal covenant between God and every living creature on earth.” 17 Then God said to Noah, “Yes, this rainbow is the sign of the covenant I am confirming with all the creatures on earth.”
God’s physical covenant of the rainbow serves as on-going reminder of His promise of Hope in our lives. It is a physical symbol with a spiritual connection for us to God and to others that recognize the same covenant. May the promise of God’s covenant of Hope be present in our lives that we share it with others along our way in life. May they see His rainbow in us and may we also remind others of Him.