The True Meaning of the Rainbow
Contrary to the faddish silliness of our modern society, the Rainbow was meant to comfort us, not divide us.
The modern theft of the rainbow symbolism by those who would subvert the true meaning of God’s promise, is all anyone needs to see to know our society is gripped by madness.
It is fascinating that the very reason for the flood in Genesis was that the people had forgotten and driven God from their thinking and living. This rebellion unleashed a dangerous infection in the souls of men and turned them into passion-indulging monsters instead of the image of God that they were created to be. So the flood ended the sickness, and God placed a rainbow in the clouds as a promise and a gift to Noah and his family.
God will never again destroy His world through water. Next time, as the scriptures declare, it will be fire!
Woah! That sounds serious. And it is! But what makes it serious isn’t fear, retribution, or even punishment. God simply isn’t interested in that elementary and easily misunderstood interpretation of His plan for His Humanity. No, what makes it so serious and hopefully sobering is that this truth is supposed to wake me up NOW to the opportunity by God’s grace to “get ready!”
Look at Genesis 7:11-8:3:
The flood continued forty days upon the earth; and the waters increased, and bore up the ark, and it rose high above the earth. The waters prevailed and increased greatly upon the earth; and the ark floated on the face of the waters. And the waters prevailed so mightily upon the earth that all the high mountains under the whole heaven were covered; the waters prevailed above the mountains, covering them fifteen cubits deep. And all flesh died that moved upon the earth, birds, cattle, beasts, all swarming creatures that swarm upon the earth, and every man; everything on the dry land in whose nostrils was the breath of life died. He blotted out every living thing that was upon the face of the ground, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the air; they were blotted out from the earth. Only Noah was left, and those that were with him in the ark. And the waters prevailed upon the earth a hundred and fifty days. But God remembered Noah and all the beasts and all the cattle that were with him in the ark. And God made a wind blow over the earth, and the waters subsided; the fountains of the deep and the windows of the heavens were closed, the rain from the heavens was restrained, and the waters receded from the earth continually. At the end of a hundred and fifty days the waters had abated.
We’ve been hearing about this for several days now, and we’ve been invited to see his old story through the eyes of the timeless Orthodox faith, emphasizing God’s love for humanity, His bitter “cure” for the terminal spiritual illness of humanity in Noah’s day, and His obedient servant Noah paying the price to see beyond the moment to prepare for God’s work.
And now the Flood has come, and this flood has done what God said it would do. As an aside, it always strikes me as amusing when modern scholars do all they can to explain away these stories of the scriptures. It always comes across as a prideful attempt to “tame” what was never meant to be tamed in the first place. They seem determined to make it easier on themselves by diminishing the power of the story to do what the story was meant to do – wake up humanity to our true purpose and focus. They use words like “myth” and “literal,” all in a fruitless attempt to “soften the blow” of amazing stories that “couldn’t possibly be true. ” What a waste of time and a colossal missing the point!
So, what is the point, you may ask? First, this is my Father’s world. As much as prideful humanity may insist otherwise, our life, world, and universe are gifts, and ignoring that fundamental truth has terrible consequences. Next, my Father has a purpose for my life: to know Him in the “power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings” and to be conformed to His will. I will either embrace this purpose or experience His Unchanging Presence as torment. Finally, my Father will never forget me. Far from a disinterested “clock-maker” god of those who would prefer this troublesome Creator to leave us alone, my Father knows me and loves me with a love beyond anything I can grasp or comprehend. I can only stand at the edge of my reason in slack-jawed wonder at His care and provision for me.
St. George the Righteous entered monasticism young and lived on Mt. Maleon with his brothers. His life was such an example of peaceful holiness that his moniker, “the Righteous,” still applies to it today. He practiced the disciplines so seriously and faithfully that he was given the gift of foresight. He predicted his own death 3 years in advance because that’s how sensitive and attentive his life had become in Christ. But this is the fruit of holiness. This attentive way of living lets us see the attacks of the evil one, our own deep brokenness, and even the brokenness of others so far in advance we are always ready for it by God’s grace.
Today, the rainbow in the sky promises that God will never again cleanse the world with water. Now, water is used for baptism, blessing, and life! But there will come a day, either at the Parousia or at my own mortal end, when I will step into the glaring brightness of His Presence forever. Being wise enough to start getting my spiritual eyes used to this brightness is the whole reason to live a Normal Orthodox Life!
P.S. With the rivers of your tears, you have made the barren desert fertile. Through sighs of sorrow from deep within you, your labors have borne fruit a hundred-fold. By your miracles you have become a light, shining upon the world. O George, our Holy Father, pray to Christ our God, to save our souls.
Here is a complimentary post from Faith Encouraged. Please help us by becoming a regular supporter through your subscription and sharing this with others!
