I was with Chandler recently when we saw a rainbow (a rare occurrence in southern California, I might add) and he blurted out, “I think that means to me God’s happy.”
Mind you, he and I do not have a running commentary about God. As part of his new home schooling program, I am teaching him “The Bible as Literature” and that is going relatively well, but I can’t say that he brings up God as a normal part of the conversation, so this kind of comment, out of nowhere, was a total delight.
Not to mention that he is right, too. A rainbow means that God is happy. In reference to the Bible as Literature, the rainbow was a sign to Noah that God would never again destroy the earth by water. Chandler’s insight that God is happy about that is brilliant, and a testimony to how much kids know that we don’t know they know.
That the rampant wickedness on the earth required God to destroy so much of what he had created and start over with one good man called Noah was something that brought God no amount of pleasure. “For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone,” he proclaimed through his prophet Ezekiel. “Repent and live!” (Ezekiel 18:32)
Some people think God is a sort of killjoy who takes great pleasure in meeting out his justice on all unrighteousness. Nothing could be further from the truth. Peter echoes the prophecy of Ezekiel when he wrote: “The Lord is not slow about His promise [about returning to judge the world], as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9) That’s the real heart of God toward us. Give us as much time as possible to turn to him.
It was no coincidence that the oldest man living as recorded in the scriptures was Methuselah. He lived 969 years and his name meant: “when he dies, it shall be sent.” In other words, Methuselah was a walking billboard for the end of the world as they knew it. And God let that sign speak for 969 years. Fair warning. Seven days after Methuselah died the floods came.
God is going to have to pass judgment again on the world someday, but there’s not going to be any fun in it. What’s fun is hanging rainbows in the sky and promising to never again flood the earth. That made God happy, just as Chandler called it.
What makes God happy is when we repent – when we change our minds and turn to him, because that means he can give us life.
John Fischer The Catch 
Great message, but I was wondering–how do you know Methuselah died BEFORE the flood (much less exactly a week), and not IN the flood with everybody else? I don’t think the Bible gives specific dates for either event.
I got my info from a commentary so I will have to check it out more carefully. I know the meaning of his name is correct and can’t imagine why God would make him go through the flood. He was Noah’s grandfather and a righteous man as well. Besides, the name means the flood comes when he dies, not that he will die in the flood. The commentary I read even said the 7 days in-between was to give the family time to mourn his death before the rains started.
Dear John,
Just to confirm what joy it is to be surprised by your Catch 5 times a week… I love the new format, they say that a “picture replaces a thousand words”… whether that is so or not, it certainly adds truth and beauty.. I love the transparent way you share your family, it makes you all so real. And above all, your deep love of our Triune God and His Word, is truly manna from heaven.
May He continue to bless you and use you in so many ways .
With so much love and respect
Sylveen Buenos Aires Argentina
Thank you. So nice to have you with us!
Chandler is a wise young man.