Greeting Members and Friends
It is time for our weekly Sunday School preview so thanks for joining me and welcome back. September begins a new unit that focuses on God’s covenant promises entitled “Signs of God’s Covenants”. At various times in human history, the bible tells us of promises God made. These promises or “covenants” were between God and something He created. A covenant may require something on the part of that which is created or it may be something God decides to do alone. Today’s lesson entitled “The Rainbow” teaches us about a covenant God decides to do on His own and requires nothing on the part of anything created.
This lesson is about the aftermath of the great flood in which all people died except Noah and his family. A flood by the way that many don’t believe happened, but Jesus indicated that it did happen because He referred to it when talking about the end times. Because of man’s wickedness, God regrettably destroyed the human race and spared only Noah and his family. In addition to people, land animals were destroyed as well. After the terrible loss of life as a result of the flood, God made a promise with the inhabitants of the earth that He would never bring such a flood again upon the earth. This covenant didn’t require anything on the part of anyone else. This covenant was God’s own promise He made with His creation.
Often something is done to seal the covenant or to remind people of the covenant or to participate in the covenant. For this covenant, God gave the rainbow as a reminder of the covenant He made to the inhabitants of the earth. The lesson also makes mention of the fact that Noah offered several sacrifices upon his departure from the ark to demonstrate to God his gratitude for his deliverance. It should be noted that Noah used only “clean” animals in his sacrifices and that his sacrifices were accepted by God. Here again is another example of bringing and giving only our best if we want to be accepted by God.
You can get a deeper understanding by reading the daily SS readings found in your SS book and on our website and mobile app. Well, that’s about all for this week’s preview. Be sure to join us in Sunday School this week for a fully discussion of this lesson and the general topic of biblical covenants. So, until then
Grace and peace
Pastor Jordan
