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Dutch Category 1: The Covenant with Noah – A Promise of Security
This category focuses on the foundational story of the rainbow as God’s covenant sign after the flood—a divine response to collective trauma and a promise of future security.
Genesis 9:11
“I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.”
Reflection: This is the core of the promise, the verbal assurance that precedes the visual sign. For a people group, and indeed all humanity, that has survived a cataclysmic trauma, a deep-seated fear of recurrence is natural. This verse is a direct address to that existential anxiety. It establishes a new baseline of safety, a declaration that the world, which had felt so hostile and unstable, is now under a new and permanent rule of divine protection from such an event.
Genesis 9:12
“And God 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:’”
Reflection: God understands that human beings need more than words to heal and trust; we need tangible symbols. A “sign” serves as a permanent, external anchor for an internal hope. By making this covenant not just with humanity but with “every living creature,” God broadens the scope of our empathy. It teaches us that our own sense of security is deeply interwoven with the well-being of the entire created world.
Genesis 9:13
“I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth.”
Reflection: This is a profound act of divine therapy. The very source of the destructive water—the storm cloud—is repurposed as the canvas for the promise. What would naturally trigger fear and traumatic flashbacks is intentionally transformed into a trigger for hope and remembrance. It shows an intimate understanding of how our minds form associations, and it is a deliberate act of overwriting a memory of terror with one of grace.
Genesis 9:14
“When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds,”
Reflection: Notice the wording: “When I bring clouds…” This acknowledges that life will still have its storms, its moments of darkness and fear. The promise isn’t an absence of trouble, but the presence of God’s faithfulness within it. The rainbow doesn’t prevent the rain; it appears alongside it. This is a mature emotional and spiritual reality: security is not the removal of all threats, but the unwavering confidence in a promise that endures through them.
Genesis 9:15
“I 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.”
Reflection: The language of God “remembering” is not for His benefit, but for ours. It personifies His commitment, framing it as a conscious, active, and relational choice. For us, the deepest fear can be the fear of being forgotten by God. This verse calms that specific anxiety, assuring us that His promise is not a static, forgotten rule but a continually remembered, active commitment to our preservation.
Genesis 9:16
“When 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.”
Reflection: This verse creates a shared focal point between God and humanity. When we look at a rainbow, we are invited to know that God is also looking at it, and together, we are remembering the same promise. This creates a profound sense of connection and relational intimacy. It’s a moment of shared gaze, bridging the gap between the divine and the human and reinforcing our sense of being seen, known, and held securely.
Genesis 8:22
“While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease.”
Reflection: Before the rainbow is given, the rhythm of life is restored. This verse addresses the deep human need for predictability and order after chaos. Trauma disrupts our sense of a reliable world. Here, God re-establishes the dependable cycles of nature, which becomes the foundation upon which the more specific promise of the rainbow can be built. It’s a calming of the nervous system of the world, allowing trust to take root again.
Isaiah 54:9
“‘This is like the days of Noah to me: as I swore that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth, so I have sworn that I will not be angry with you and will not rebuke you.’”
Reflection: Here, the prophet Isaiah draws a direct line from the physical security promised to Noah to the emotional and relational security offered to God’s people. The memory of the rainbow covenant is used as the ultimate metaphor for God’s unwavering compassion. It takes a universal symbol of safety and applies it to the intimate, personal fear of rejection and anger, assuring us that God’s commitment to us is just as steadfast.
Category 2: The Glory of God – A Vision of Awe and Majesty
This category explores how the rainbow is used in visionary literature to describe the indescribable—the awesome, overwhelming, yet beautiful reality of God’s presence.
Ezekiel 1:28
“Like the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud on the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness all around. Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell on my face…”
Reflection: For Ezekiel, the rainbow is the only earthly image adequate to describe the breathtaking splendor of God’s glory. The rainbow mixes beauty with overwhelming power, intense light with gentle colors. This reflects the dual nature of the divine presence: it is terrifying in its holiness and power, yet simultaneously beautiful and inviting. The response of falling on his face is one of pure awe—a state where the mind is overwhelmed by a reality so much greater than itself.
Ezekiel 1:26
“And above the expanse over their heads there was the likeness of a throne, in appearance like sapphire; and seated above the likeness of a throne was a likeness with a human appearance.”
Reflection: The vision builds a sense of transcendent otherness—a throne of stunning sapphire above a crystal expanse. Yet, seated upon it is a “likeness with a human appearance.” Before we even see the rainbow, we are being prepared for a God who is both utterly majestic and yet relatable. This verse primes the heart to see that the immense glory described next is not one of a distant, abstract force, but a personal, sovereign being.
Revelation 4:3
“And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald.”
Reflection: In John’s vision, the rainbow is a permanent fixture around God’s throne, a solid, emerald-green halo of faithfulness. Unlike the transient rainbow on earth, this one is everlasting. It signifies that God’s very nature and rule are defined by His covenant faithfulness. The emerald color evokes life, peace, and renewal. It is an image of profound assurance that at the very center of all reality sits a God whose authority is rooted in promise-keeping.
Revelation 10:1
“Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, wrapped in a cloud, with a rainbow over his head, and his face was like the sun, and his legs were like pillars of fire.”
Reflection: Here, the rainbow is a crown on a divine messenger, signifying that the message he brings, though it may contain judgment and severity (“pillars of fire”), is still framed by God’s covenant promise. It’s a powerful visual reminder that even in God’s most formidable and world-changing actions, His ultimate character of faithfulness is never set aside. Hope is the diadem that crowns power.
Revelation 4:2
“At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne.”
Reflection: This verse establishes the context for the throne-room rainbow. The first and most important reality John sees is that the universe is not chaotic; it is governed. A throne implies sovereignty, order, and ultimate control. The later appearance of the rainbow around this throne deepens its meaning: the one in control is not a tyrant, but a covenant-keeper. This meets a deep human need for a benevolent, not a malevolent, ultimate power.
Psalm 104:2
“…covering yourself with light as with a garment, stretching out the heavens like a tent.”
Reflection: While not using the word “rainbow,” this verse captures the essence of its visual splendor. Light itself, the source of all color, is God’s garment. This imagery invites us into a state of wonder, portraying the universe not as a cold, empty space but as the beautiful, personal dwelling of God. This sense of being enveloped in a world clothed in divine light can evoke feelings of safety, warmth, and profound aesthetic joy.
Sirach 43:11-12 (Apocrypha/Deuterocanon)
“Look at the rainbow, and praise him who made it; it is exceedingly beautiful in its brightness. It encircles the sky with its glorious arc; the hands of the Most High have stretched it out.”
Reflection: This verse is a direct command to engage in mindful appreciation. It calls us to move beyond a passive glance to active praise, connecting the beauty of the phenomenon to the character of its Creator. It speaks to the human capacity for wonder and gratitude. The image of God’s own hands stretching the bow infuses the natural event with a sense of personal, artistic intention, making the experience of seeing a rainbow an invitation into worship.
Sirach 50:7 (Apocrypha/Deuterocanon)
“…like a rainbow gleaming in splendid clouds.”
Reflection: Used to describe the glory of the high priest Simon, this simile shows how the rainbow had become the ultimate cultural symbol for God-given glory and beauty. It represents a state of being that is radiant, divinely favored, and a source of hope and inspiration to the community. To be “like a rainbow” is to be a living testament to God’s splendor and faithfulness.
Category 3: The Rainbow of Enduring Hope and Faithfulness
This thematic category includes verses that, while not always mentioning a rainbow, speak directly to the moral-emotional reality it represents: steadfast love, hope that anchors the soul, and joy that follows sorrow.
Lamentations 3:22-23
“The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
Reflection: This is the internal, emotional truth that the external rainbow symbolizes. In a state of deep lament and societal collapse, the author clings to the one thing that feels permanent: God’s loyal love. The phrase “new every morning” is the daily equivalent of the rainbow after the storm. It is a conscious choice to trust in a fresh start, to believe that mercy will dawn just as reliably as the sun, pushing back the darkness of despair.
Psalm 30:5
“For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.”
Reflection: This verse perfectly captures the emotional arc of the Noah story: from a period of judgment and terror (“weeping for a night”) to a new morning of life and promise. The rainbow is the quintessential symbol of “joy in the morning.” This verse gives language to the hope that our deepest sorrows are temporary conditions, while God’s favor and the joy it brings are the ultimate, enduring state.
2 Corinthians 1:20
“For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.”
Reflection: This verse elevates the concept of God’s promises, like the rainbow, to their ultimate fulfillment in Christ. Jesus becomes the living, breathing “Yes” to every hope God ever offered. He is the ultimate rainbow after the ultimate storm of sin and death. This provides a deep sense of coherence and integrity to our faith; the symbols that gave hope in the past find their final, most profound meaning in a person.
Hebrews 6:19
“We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain.”
Reflection: If the rainbow is a visual anchor, this verse describes its internal, emotional effect. Hope is not wishful thinking but a “sure and steadfast anchor” for our entire being, our soul. In times of emotional storms and uncertainty, this hope keeps us from being tossed about. It secures us to a reality (God’s faithfulness) that is more stable than our fluctuating feelings or circumstances.
Romans 15:13
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”
Reflection: This is a prayer for the internal experience that the rainbow is meant to inspire. It connects belief directly to the emotions of joy and peace. The ultimate goal is not just to have a little hope, but to “abound” in it—to be overflowing with a confident expectation of God’s goodness. It frames hope not as something we muster ourselves, but as a gift from the “God of hope,” nurtured within us by His Spirit.
Psalm 89:2
“For I said, ‘Steadfast love will be built up forever; in the heavens you will establish your faithfulness.’”
Reflection: This speaks of God’s faithfulness as an architectural reality, something “built up” and “established” in the heavens. The rainbow is the visible sign of this heavenly, established reality breaking into our world. This verse fosters a deep sense of security. God’s faithfulness isn’t a mood; it’s a permanent structure in the universe, as real and reliable as the sky itself.
1 Peter 1:3
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,”
Reflection: The flood story was a world reborn after destruction; the resurrection is the ultimate new birth for humanity. This verse connects God’s mercy directly to a “living hope.” It’s not a static, historical hope, but one that is alive, active, and powerful because its source, the resurrected Christ, is alive. It is the hope of a completely new beginning, the final and most personal rainbow after our own personal storms.
Romans 8:38-39
“For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Reflection: This is perhaps the most comprehensive and psychologically reassuring promise in all of Scripture. It is the verbal fulfillment of the rainbow’s symbolism. It addresses every conceivable source of human anxiety—death, cosmic powers, the future, the unknown—and declares them powerless to sever our connection to God’s love. It is the ultimate statement of eternal security, the anchor for the soul that the rainbow first promised.
