The Rainbow

Reading 6: Genesis 8

From the time Noah stepped foot into the ark, to the time the muddy earth was finally drying out an entire year had passed. An entire year! Cooped up with animals, children, wives...all kinds of things that can make long trips miserable. :)

One rabbi suggests that the rainbow holds special significance regarding God at war with man. That the rainbow reminds us that God would no longer destroy man in effort to "clean up the act" and reminds us of a bow and arrow pointed away from earth. It's an interesting comment; click here to read the rabbi's comments on the dove and rainbow.

The verse that stood out to me today is this:

The LORD smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart: "Never again will I curse the ground because of man

One person's sacrifice can make a difference. Noah offered what he had, and God "smelled the pleasing aroma"...quite a difference from His reaction to Cain. Perhaps this is the attitude offerings require: willingness, thankfulness, self-directed not law-directed.

I pray that my offering (time, talent, etc) is a pleasing aroma.