A Miracle Through Science

I love teachable moments with my son… especially ones that are obviously God-ordained for the sole purpose of bringing Him glory.  While performing the wonderful and exciting task of cleaning the kitchen earlier today, I took a moment from washing to check in and see what Braylen was up to. As I peeked around the corner into the utility room I saw him crouching on the floor, fascinated by slices of rainbow. They were being cast through a glass cross I have sitting on the windowsill. (I know- perfect right?) I believe he was amazed at the fact that he could not cover up the rainbow with his hand. I wonder how often we try to cover up the glory of God with our own logic? Hmmm…

I grabbed my camera and although it isn’t the best photo quality in the world, it’s priceless to me. I took the opportunity as I felt God nudge… “Do you know where rainbows come from?” I asked. I knew that he understood some of the origin: he goes to church constantly (learning the story of Noah) and also saw that episode of The Magic School Bus- haha.  However, I decided to explain in 4 year old terms the science behind the beauty; briefly relaying how white light actually has all different colors in it and when it shines through some glass shapes, as well as rain,  it separates all the colors out into a rainbow. This kid is sharp and got it completely. I knew God didn’t want me to stop there though so I questioned him on the story of Noah and sharpened what was fuzzy for him. He listened intently as I told him that the reason we have rainbows is because all those years ago when Noah, his family and the animals were saved by God from the flood water, God made a promise to him never to flood the whole world with water again. God had to wipe out all the bad in the world and all the people that hated Him so He could start over with a family that did love Him and animals that would fill the earth again. I loved his face as he took all of this in- complete captivation. I knew I wouldn’t have the attention of a 4-1/2 year old boy for much longer though, so I got to the point: every time we see a rainbow it reminds us of God’s  promise never to wipe out the world with water again. And God NEVER breaks His promises.

That was the end of my son’s lesson but as I went back to my household chores, God surprised me. Thinking I was done and had obeyed the nudging of His Spirit, He nudged me again. This time- it was for me. The story of the rainbow is wonderful and a tale that we, if in church at all as children, remember from our Sunday school teachers. However, one aspect of the story touched my heart and reminded me that as simple as we make it, this promise is intended to be as powerful to me as it is to my child. The foundational truth that we have to remember is that when God says something, we can stake our lives on it- He’ll do it. There’s no fear, no wondering if He’ll come through, no doubt that He meant it… if God promised it, then that is exactly what we can expect. The mere fact that we still see the rainbow today- a phenomenon in natural science that is so simple to explain, yet so powerful when viewed, tells us that He meant it then and He means it now. All of Scripture is filled with the glory of God being shown through words that He spoke and promised. Isaiah 51:4-6 is a message directly from the Maker to His people Israel. We can take this to be spoken to us as well since we are now under the New Covenant through Christ. We can claim every promise He made over His people due to the power of the cross. It states:

Pay attention to Me, O My people,
And give ear to Me, O My nation;
For a law will go forth from Me,
And I will set My justice for a light of the peoples.
My righteousness is near, My salvation has gone forth,
And My arms will judge the peoples;
The coastlands will wait for Me,
And for My arm they will wait expectantly.
Lift up your eyes to the sky,
Then look to the earth beneath;
For the sky will vanish like smoke,
And the earth will wear out like a garment
And its inhabitants will die in like manner;
But My salvation will be forever,
And My righteousness will not wane.

Wow- Promises such as these are everywhere in Scripture and we can claim and stake our life on every single one of them! How awesome is our God that the same covenants He made with His people are still living and active over our lives today because He is a God of His Word! A simple object-lesson on rainbows rocked my world today. It isn’t  just for Sunday school;  it’s for every day that we breathe on this earth. We see, even through science, how our Creator promises us daily that He will watch over us and will always do what He says He will do. Praise You Abba, that You are faithful to the end of time and may I never again take a rainbow for granted.