The Bow of Remembrance

Date: Wednesday, January 7, 2026

Genesis 9 seals the deal with a covenant. God puts His bow in the clouds. In the ancient world, a bow was a weapon of war. By pointing the bow away from the earth and into the clouds, God is making a radical statement: ‘I am hanging up my weapon.’ He promises never to destroy the earth with a flood again. But this isn’t cheap grace. The covenant comes with a reminder of the sanctity of life; blood for blood. The rainbow is a sign of peace, but it’s a peace bought by God’s commitment to justice, subject to God’s judgment.

Psalm 7 echoes this tension. It’s a prayer for justice against the pursuers. The Psalmist asks God to judge him according to his righteousness, but also recognizes that God is a righteous judge who feels indignation every day. If a man does not repent, God will whet His sword. The rainbow in the sky doesn’t mean God is soft on sin; it means He is merciful to the repentant while remaining the ultimate Arbiter of right and wrong.

We often want a tame and gentle God who gives us rainbows and ignores our hot mess. But a God who isn’t just, isn’t a God worth worshipping. We need to recognize our faults in the face of a faultless Creator. The beauty of the cross, which is the ultimate bow of peace, is where the sword of justice fell so that we could receive the rainbow of mercy. Today, we must live in the security of that covenant. Don’t take grace for granted, and don’t fear that the world is spinning out of control or that your persistent sin is unforgivable. The Judge of all the earth will do right, and His bow is still hanging in the sky as a promise and reminder of His enduring faithfulness and His unending grace.

Devotional Prompts:

How does the image of God hanging up His bow change your understanding of His mercy?
Why is it important that God is a righteous judge who is indignant toward evil?
In what ways have you treated God’s grace as cheap lately? (be honest with yourself)
How can you reflect God’s commitment to both justice and mercy in your own relationships today?

Prayer: Righteous Judge, I thank You for the rainbow of Your covenant and the peace it represents. Help me to live with a deep respect for Your justice and a profound gratitude for Your mercy. Lead me in Your paths of righteousness. Amen.