“While we are naming our tendencies to mistreat the Noah story, let us note two more. People tend to think that it is merely about sin and judgment, overlooking its message about redemption and grace. And second, when we do note its redemptive aspects, we tend to see only God’s care for humans and not his care for creation” (88).
“It is quite possible, therefore, that the symbolism of the rainbow speaks of the fact that God has laid down his weapon of war and thus has put away the wrath that had led to the judgment of the flood” (97).
The common but unfortunate practice of thinking of redemptive history as beginning with Abraham and Sarah comes from a tendency to think of redemption purely in elective and man-centered terms. Certainly, the Noahic covenant is not about justification; but justification is not all there is to redemption. … As we have seen, God’s preservation of the seed promise is a crucial element of this redemptive purpose. … God’s judgment upon sin by the flood is an expression of his fatherly care as well, for it serves the ultimate end of grace. … As the rainbow symbolizes God’s faithfulness to his redemptive promise, it also symbolizes that God’s covenant of grace will embrace all of creation” (98-99).
