The Bow in the Cloud

“And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud” (Gen. 9:14). John R. MacDuff uses God’s promise to Noah—and to all humankind—as a metaphor for His suffering saints. There will be clouds (trials) in every life; but God promises to provide with the clouds a rainbow (His reassuring presence and promises).The author continually encourages the Christian to look to the sovereign God, who desires to use our severe trials to bring glory to himself, deepen our faith, and to produce a greater maturity in our understanding and walk with him. MacDuff demonstrates godly wisdom as he comes alongside the suffering believer, pointing him and her always to the unchanging and compassionate Father of mercies. He was clear about who his target audience was in writing these thirty-one devotionals: “This little book is intended to be seen by no eyes but weeping ones. It addresses no hearts but broken ones. It is to speak of sorrows with which a stranger cannot intermeddle.” Read this book and be encouraged in the Lord!

John Ross MacDuff (1818-1895) was born May 23, 1818, at Bonhard, near Perth, Scotland. After studying at the University of Edinburgh, he became in 1842 parish minister of Kettins, Forfarshire; in 1849 of St. Madoes, Perthshire; and in 1855 of Sandyford, Glasgow. He received the Doctor of Divinity degree from the University of Glasgow in 1862, and about the same time also from the University of New York. He retired from pastoral work in 1871, and thereafter lived at Chislehurst, Kent, for the purpose of focusing entirely on writing. MacDuff was a prolific author of devotional works, as well as a composer of hymns. Several of his writings are still in circulation.