How do we teach our children about the rainbow God showed Noah when they see a rainbow flag in their neighborhood that has different connections?
Children are natural-born inquisitive thinkers, and their observations can offer a significant opportunity for parents, teachers, and mentors.
When a child sees a rainbow in the sky, we have a chance to focus the conversation on God’s promise to Noah in Genesis 9. These moments are divinely provided opportunities to share how God promises to care for and protect his people.
Joshua 4 provides a blueprint for using a child’s curiosity to discuss God’s character and works. After God stopped the flow of the Jordan River so Israel could cross on dry land, Joshua commanded that 12 stones be set up on the riverbank. He explained that when future generations saw the stones and asked what they meant, adults would have a natural opening to share the story of God’s faithfulness to the Israelites. When a young child sees a rainbow in the sky, we have a similar opportunity to share the promise God made to us and his creation in Genesis 9.
As children grow older, these conversations can expand when they encounter rainbows on posters, flags, or in other contexts. While parents, teachers, or mentors might initially feel hesitant to engage with this topic, acknowledging a rainbow flag can be an invitation to a deeper discussion rather than a moment to avoid.
You could begin by asking a few questions, such as what they think a rainbow symbolizes or what they’ve been told it means. While acknowledging that different people hold varying views on marriage and sexuality, parents and teachers can use a rainbow flag as an opportunity to share that God made marriage to be between a man and a woman and that we look to Scripture to understand God’s good plan for our lives.
By engaging this topic with openness and a non-anxious presence, you communicate to children two vital truths: that God’s Word speaks to this cultural moment and that their questions are always welcome.
About the Author
Rick Zomer has worked with young adults for over 30 years and currently serves as a faith formation consultant for the CRCNA. He lives in Grand Rapids, Mich., and attends Fifth Church.