Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - Oct/79

Contributor - P. M. DeJong

Title - A Real Thanksgiving: Biblical Background

Topic - Thanksgiving

The account of the first thanksgiving can be found in the Bible. In Leviticus 23:39 - 44 we read:

"On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the produce of the land, you shall keep the feast of the Lord seven days; on the first day shall be a solemn rest, and on the eighth day shall be a solemn rest. And you shall take on the first day the fruit of goodly trees, branches of palm trees, and boughs of leafy trees, and willows of the brook; and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God seven days. You shall keep it as a feast to the Lord seven days in the year; it is a statute for ever throughout your generations; you shall keep it in the seventh month. You shall dwell in booths for seven days; all that are native in Israel shall dwell in booths, that your generations may know that I made the people of Isreal dwell in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt; I am the Lord your God".

Our Jewish friends celebrate their thanksgiving five days after "Yom Kippur" or "Day of Atonement", one of the most sacred days in the life of Judaism. On that day the Jew stands before his God to examine himself and see what he has done with his God-given task. And when he is convinced about his short-comings and failures he stands before his judge, but who at the same time is his loving Father whose grace knows no end when sins are confessed. Five days following this "Yom Kippur" our Jewish friends are celebrating the "Feast of Booths", in remembrance of the time when Israel had to live in tents in the wilderness on their way to the Promised Land; and that even in the wilderness they were safe under the guidance of God. In Biblical times this feast was also an agricultural harvest feast and as such it was a joyful event. The introduction to this feast we can read in Deut. 16:14 - 15.

"You shall rejoice in your feast, you and your son and your daughter, your manservant and your maidservant, the Levite, the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow who are within your towns.

For seven days you shall keep the feast to the Lord your God at the place which the Lord your God will choose; because the Lord your God will bless you in all your product and in all the work of your hands so that you will be altogether joyful"

Our Canadian thanksgiving date usually falls close to the Biblically appointed time since the early pilgrim fathers were deeply aware of their Biblical heritage (thanksgiving in the U.S.A. was originally also celebrated at an earlier time).

No other gods

When on October 8th we celebrate our National Thanksgiving Day, then we don't do this as people who somehow or other want to express our gratitude to some "Providence" or "Nature God", who has sent us his blessing. No, then we express our gratitude to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who redeemed us and Who in Christ provided us with all other blessings of life as well. It is good to realize this when we celebrate our Thanksgiving Day. It is this God who promises in Gen. 8:22, that the rhythm of nature, summer and winter, day and night, cold and heat, and therefore also sowing a harvest stands under his Fatherly care. Thanking this God gives reason for gratitude, even when hardships have come our way. (Sickness, death, tornados, etc.)

Gratitude

Like our Jewish friends we also have our special days wherein we are allowed to make up the balance of our life. On such days, and I am thinking here about our Thanksgiving Day, we may think back on what we lost and what we gained. I am sure that when we do so there are many of us who surely may be thankful for many things. Some of us were married this year, some received a baby, some of us had to undergo an operation and of separation. When they left each better occupation with an increase in salary; Churches which are increasing in number and in grace, and I believe many Reformed Churches in Canada are; and all of us living in a land of freedom. Oh, there are so many things for which we may be grateful. Sometimes we simply forget that we have been healthy for a whole year, we forget that we have been spared accidents whereas other have not. Sometimes we forget that we enjoyed so many beautiful moments in life, - the smile of your child, the love of your wife (husband), the patience and care of your parents, the interest and good-will of your neighbours. Sometimes we live so superficial, we complain about inflation and we grumble about the increase in the price of our gasoline but so often we forget the many good things we did receive.

Enough or everything?

We have so much, but do we have everything? I think hereby about the story of Jacob and Esau which we can find in Gen. 33. It is the story of two brothers who meet each other again after many years of separation. When they left each other, the one vowed to kill the other. And so Jacob fled. (we all know the story) Finally the brothers are about to meet each other again, but it is only after wrestling with God that Jacob dares to meet his brother. To ensure his brother's forgiveness Jacob sent a tremendous gift to Esau his brother, but Easu is not angry anymore and is happy to see him; opening his arms he said to Jacob: "I have enough my brother, keep what you have for yourself' (Gen. 33:9). But Jacob pressed on and said: "I have enough my brother, accept my present from my hand". What he is actually saying is: "I have enough for I have learned to live by the grace of God, everything I have comes from the Hand of God who is my Saviour",

On this Thanksgiving Day the question that is asked of us is this what do you have: enough or everything?" But when we answer: everything", then let us also express this in sharing with those who have not and with those who say: "I have enough!" On our day of prayer for the crops we ask for God's blessing. On our Thanksgiving Day we thank the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ for His mercy and grace and we pray: "Lord what must we do with all the riches you gave us?" We wish you all a "happy Thanksgiving!" Do you have everything?

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