The covenant of the bow            

Reading: Genesis 9:8-17

Scripture: “When the bow is in the clouds, I will see and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” (Genesis 9:16

Reflection: Noah and the other survivors of the flood must have felt really special to have been saved from the flood. Noah was obedient to God, so he must have felt even more special to be chosen by God to be the recipient of the covenant that God made with mankind and all living things. In the covenant, God promised God promised 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.” (Genesis 8:11) This covenant is known as the Noahic Covenant. 

The Noahic covenant has three unique characteristics. Firstly, it is made with the whole earth, mankind and all living creatures. Secondly, it is unconditional and unilateral which means that God will do as He has promised without Noah or his descendants having to do anything. There are no strings attached. The matter is entirely in God’s hands. He will remember us even if we forget Him. Even if we break His heart, He will not break His covenant with us. Thirdly, the covenant is marked with a sign, the rainbow. Sadly, in modern times, climate change and housing developments have made the sightings of rainbows rarer. Oh, how we miss these beautiful aspects of God’s creation. 

The symbolism of water should not escape us, especially as we see our baptism as our coming into union with the body of Christ. Water is poured on us and we covenant to accept Christ, put our trust in Him, renounce sin and evil, and we profess our faith using the Apostles’ Creed. If we were baptised as infants, the vows would have been made on our behalf by our parents and godparents.

God has fulfilled His covenant. As we journey through Lent, It might be useful to spend some time looking at how well we have kept the covenants made at our baptism and celebrate that God keeps His covenants.

Meditation: What were the covenants made (or made for you) at your baptism?

Prayer: Faithful and loving God, You have created all things and to You we give honour, glory and praise. Direct our paths and our thoughts that we will remain faithful to You in all we do. Amen.

The St. Jude’s Writers

St. Jude’s Church

Stony Hill

Anglican Diocese of Jamaica and The Cayman Islands

22 February 2021