The Rainbow Genesis 9:8-17
Delivered to Smith Chapel UMC on March 1, 2009
What I Didn't Say
Rainbow--I mention in the sermon that on the day I graduated from seminary, there was a big thunderstorm. When it was over, the sun came out and I saw the biggest, brightest, most colorful rainbow I had ever seen. To this day, I've never seen a rainbow that compared to the magnificence of that one. It was so awesome, I almost began to believe in the pot of gold at the end.
For me, the rainbow, as well as a lot of other things in nature, strike me as God's presence among us. Throughout the Bible, water is a symbol of that presence. The rainbow, of course, is created because of the presence of moisture in the air. The light shining through the moisture creates the colorful bow.
I remember sitting on some gigantic rocks on the edge of Lake Erie watching the waves crash against those rocks. I remember standing by the rushing water crashing over the falls at Niagra. I remember getting caught in a horrific rainstorm while riding my motorcycle through the countryside in my home state.
All those experiences were awe inspiring. At the same time, they were frightening. They were frightening because of the power of the water. They remind me of the power of the Holy Spirit of God. It's a power I want within me. But it's also a power I can never control.
