Every January, I think about making New Year’s resolutions, and every February, I think about breaking them. Kathy tells me I can get a little grumpy about it, which may be true. But when I read Genesis 9, I was struck by the fact that God made a resolution too—and unlike mine, He kept it. After the flood that destroyed all life on earth, God made a covenant with mankind, promising never again to destroy the world by water. The sign of this promise was the rainbow, a glorious reminder painted across stormy skies. Rainbows make everyone smile, even grumpy people. They appear after the storm, not before, which feels fitting. God’s resolutions are not impulsive or short-lived; they are everlasting, filled with mercy and light. When God makes a promise, He doesn’t need to write it on a sticky note.
Jesus compared the days of His return to the time of Noah. Luke 17:26–30 records His words: “As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be in the days of the Son of Man. They ate, they drank, they married, they were given in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.” Life went on as usual until judgment arrived. That sounds uncomfortably familiar. We go about our routines—work, meals, shopping, and weddings—oblivious to eternity’s approach. I remember watching news coverage of the Indonesian tsunami years ago. Just before the wave struck, the sea mysteriously receded hundreds of feet, exposing fish and clams on the sand. Many people rushed to gather the seafood, unaware that the ocean’s retreat was a warning of disaster. They were busy collecting fish when the flood came. I can sympathize—I have a habit of missing warnings too, especially if food is involved.
Jesus’ warning about Noah’s day was not meant to frighten but to awaken faith. God’s covenant through the rainbow still speaks of mercy, but the true sign of His faithfulness is found in Christ. Paul wrote, “For all the promises of God find their Yes in Him” (2 Corinthians 1:20). Just as the ark preserved Noah through the flood, Jesus is our refuge from judgment. He said, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). God’s resolution stands firm—grace triumphs over wrath, light follows storms, and for all who believe, the promise still arcs across eternity like a rainbow after the rain.