The Meaning Behind The Rainbow

CAPTION: "Photo courtesy PDPhoto.org."

A four-year old boy asked his father, "Why are there rainbows?"

The father replied, "Because God created them."

"Why did He create them?" the boy asked.

"Because he felt sad and wanted to be happy," the father responded.

"Oh, but why did He feel sad?" the boy asked.

The father explained, "Because people behaved very mean and bad a long, long time ago and God allowed a flood to cover all the earth. God was sad because he didn't like having to do that. So, He decided to make a promise (because he loves us so much) that He would never allow a flood to cover the whole earth again and He created the rainbow as a sign that He would always keep that promise."

"Oh..." said the son.

"It also reminds me that whenever there are storms in life (or bad stuff), God is present and that after the storm passes there will be something beautiful to come," the father said.

"And God said, 'This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind'" (Genesis 9:12-15a, NIV).

Note: I guess I am preparing myself to have this talk with my three year old son. Wish me luck. To read the Rainbow story in the Bible go to Genesis Chapter 9 or click here.