Genesis 9:16: “Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.”
The following month, Noah sent out a dove from the ark and this time the bird delayed its return. “Could be good or bad,” Noah said. “Either the dove is dead or she has forgotten about us.” His wife shook her head and said: “Why can’t we be a bit more optimistic? Maybe this means it’s safe to get out of the boat.” She hadn’t quite finished her sentence yet when the absentee dove sailed through the open window. It carried a freshly plucked olive leaf in its beak. “O praise the Lord!” Shem cried – “How cool is that!” Japheth chimed in and Ham threw his hands up in the air and sighed: “Can’t wait to get out of here!” The family hugged and cried, danced and clapped their hands.
For the last time Noah released the dove. As expected, the bird did not come back. Then God said to Noah [Genesis 8:16-17]:
“Come out of the ark, you and your wife and your sons and their wives. Bring out every kind of living creature that is with you—the birds, the animals, and all the creatures that move along the ground—so they can multiply on the earth and be fruitful and increase in number on it.”
The door to the ark was pushed open and the animals left the vessel at once. Noah with his family stepped outside and took a deep breath.
It was a silent world. Anything left from the prior civilization now lay in ruins. Every living thing on the face of the earth had been wiped out. Only Noah was left and those with him in the ark. It was a new beginning.
With the rainbow as a sign, God promised that there would be no more worldwide flood. Rather than pulling the plug in response to sin grown out of control, God asked Noah and his descendants to prosecute crimes going forward. Thus the age of accountability had begun. The Lord said [Genesis 9:6]:
“Whoever sheds human blood,
by humans shall their blood be shed;
for in the image of God
has God made mankind.”
It is written in the skies that God makes good on His promises – a shiny rainbow wrapped in the clouds serves as our reminder.