Why the rainbow is a symbol of God’s love for us

Colours. Bermuda is about to experience a day when the great spectrum of colours will be seen. Now, while I am primarily referring to the wonderful array of colours you will see among the spectators and each Gombey outfit on Bermuda Day, I am also speaking to the array of colours that are quietly visible as you look at the skin colour of the people.  

Colours are wonderful. I believe that colours actually testify to the nature of who God is. 

There are two very powerful attributes or characteristics of God. God is love and God is light.

1 John 4:8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

1 John 1:5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. In reality, Jesus is the combination of these two verses. Jesus is the Light that was sent in the world to redeem mankind back to The Father because of the love that God has towards His creation.

Again, I say that all colours are beautiful, because each and every colour is a testimony of God’s grace.

God spoke forth light at the very beginning of creation, and that light is made up of the colourful spectrum of light.

Grace

If someone were to ask me what colour is God, my response would be that God is light, and since God is light, then God is actually every colour. 

This speaks to the fact that we ought not divide ourselves according to colour because all the colours together make up the totality of light, and God is light.

God loves us so much that he set a bow in the sky as a reminder of who He is.

Genesis 9:11 And I will establish my covenant with you; neither shall all flesh be cut off anymore by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth.

12 And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations:

13 I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth.

14 And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud:

15 And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.

16 And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth.

The rainbow speaks to me that God destroyed the Earth because mankind did what they called right and God called wrong.  

The rainbow speaks to God’s grace and mercy in giving mankind another opportunity to live right. God has spoken that He will not destroy mankind in that way again. 

Every time I see a rainbow, I am grateful for God’s reminder to live right so that I will not suffer the consequences of death. 

I am reminded that God is still speaking and honouring His Word centuries later. As long as the Earth remains, God will continue to remind us.  

The rainbow covers the breadth of the sky as a reminder to you and me that God has us covered. 

If you would only believe and receive, that rainbow will bear its real and genuine meaning of God saying, “I have got you covered.”

Colours of the rainbow remind me God has us covered. God will cover you with His sustaining love.  

So, Bermuda, do not accept efforts to redefine the rainbow. It is simple really. The rainbow is God’s light and God’s love in that He will give you another chance to get it right. Respice finem.

Dr Maria A. Seaman is the pastor of Shekinah Worship Centre, Hamilton Parish.