Beauty

Beauty in Creation

One has only to consider the awesome effects of natural phenomena such as the eruption of a volcano or the passing of a powerful hurricane to imagine the massive destruction that must have occurred as a result of the Flood. Yet after the waters subsided, Noah led his family in worship and thanksgiving (Gen. 8:20). In doing so, he reaffirmed for the next generation the value of life and the need for people to follow God's ways.

In response, the Lord resolved never again to curse the ground or destroy every living thing. He also promised to renew the cycle of the seasons (8:21–22). Then God created a memorial or sign of His promise—a beautiful rainbow as a permanent reminder of His covenant with every living creature (9:12–17).

This episode highlights an important fact that we do well to consider: that even though people today continue to rebel against God, and even though the curse of Genesis 3:14–19 has not been lifted, creation is still to be valued and managed wisely (Lev. 25:2; Ps. 24:1–2).