Gen 9:13 Somewhere over the Rainbow

Gen 9:13   I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. (ESV)

Over 5 million people tuned in last week to watch "Over the rainbow", Andrew Lloyd Webbers talent contest to find a Dorothy for his new musical. Frank Baum's story of the Wizard of Oz, is as rich in imagery and meaning as any fairy tale.  Some see it as a commentary on 19th century economics, others have claimed it as an atheistic manifesto, while some see Dorothy on a golden path to enlightenment. Have a read of these lyrics:

Somewhere over the rainbow
Way up high,
There's a land that I heard of
Once in a lullaby.

Somewhere over the rainbow
Skies are blue,
And the dreams that you dare to dream
Really do come true.

Someday I'll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far
Behind me.
Where troubles melt like lemon drops
Away above the chimney tops
That's where you'll find me.

Somewhere over the rainbow
Bluebirds fly.
Birds fly over the rainbow.
Why then, oh why can't I?

If happy little bluebirds fly
Beyond the rainbow
Why, oh why can't I?

Dorothy is an orphan, living with her Uncle and Aunt in the middle of an empty prairie. What happened to her parents we don't know. Instead of being explicit in the exact nature of her pain and sadness the story focuses on the plight of her dog Toto who is terrorised by a neighbour. Children learn about suffering and caring and loss and love through pets. Like many people, in the mists of loneliness, dispair, trouble, pain, or suffering she longs for a place where these things are gone. Something deep in her soul tells here there is such a place. There must be such a place. But where is it and how to get there?

It's tempting to try to make the story fit the gospel but I fear that would be impossible, like banging a square peg into a round hole (or mapping a sphere onto a doughnut if you're into topology). There is a narrow road, a battle of good and evil, an Emerald city, a new heart, a renewed mind, and an impartation of courage but there is no sin and no cross in the story. Like Dorothy in the poppy field the main message could leave you in a spiritual daze, susceptible to delusion and delay.

Dorothy is innocent. It's part of the charm of the story but we are not. We have been bad neigbours, we have hurt others. However much we want to cast ourselves as the heroes or heroine, we are the bad guys and if our story unfolds like most fairy tales we won't be the ones living happily ever after. The wicked witch, the big bad wolf, the troll under the bridge all meet sticky ends for the things they did. That's justice and we recognise its truth even if we think we will escape it. 

When we meet God at the end of our lives it will not be as in Oz where an old muddled man steps out from behind a lot of smoke and puppetry, rather our tame, manmade images of a bumbling prudish weak God will be shattered as we come face to face with the glorious mighty King of heaven. The way to the place where troubles melt like lemon drops is not through wishing on a star or along some spiritual journey, but trusting in his son Jesus. He is the hero of the story, the good guy, who died for us taking on himself our just desserts, and giving us his happy ever after.

Anyway, I'd better comment on the verse rather than just using the obvious link to the wizard of Oz story. Rainbows are beautiful things, and more than perhaps any other natural phenomena (I haven't seen the northern lights so can't judge) have a transcendent quality to them. Their colourful arch towering over the land like the entrance to a heavenly theme park. This verse tells us that a rainbow is indeed a sign. It's a sign that God links with his promise never to bring such judgement again by a flood. It's a sign of grace and mercy to Noah and all his descendents. Like a massive multicoloured wedding ring around the earth it's a sign of promise. But it's also a reminder of judgment. God is a god of justice and there was a time when his wrath was poured out and while judgement will not come by water it will come again by fire when Jesus comes back.

Matt 24:36-40   "But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. (ESV)

It's also a glimpse into heaven and the glory of God. Ezekiel had a vision of God surrounded by wonderful wheels and winged creatures.  Like the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud on the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness all around. Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard the voice of one speaking. (ESV) Ez 1:28 In John's vision he saw a rainbow surrounding the throne in heaven Rev 4:3 and  an angel with a rainbow above his head. Rev 10:1. God loves colour and if you will allow me a flight of fancy, I can imagine that there was an "ooo" in heaven when he said "let there be light" but a more amazed "ahhh" as it was split into all the colours of the rainbow. Let me finish with the lyrics from the Jesus culture song I am listening to at the moment "Revelation song":

Clothed in rainbows, of living colour
Flashes of lightning, rolls of thunder
Blessing and honour, strength and
Glory and power be
To You the Only Wise King