Origin and Meaning of Thanksgiving Day
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November 24, 2013 |
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God told the Israelites to celebrate the three feasts, that is, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of the Harvest, and the Feast of the Ingathering for generations (Exodus 23:14-16). It is that He led them to the right way not going astray by remembering their history related to the feasts.
Christians celebrate three major feasts—Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Celebrating Thanksgiving Sunday of 2013, let's look into the true meaning of the Thanksgiving Day. Moreover, let's give thanks to God who allowed us to harvest abundant fruit both in spirit and body.
Thanksgiving Day is closely related to the Feast of Ingathering.
Exodus 23:16 reads, "Also you shall observe the Feast of the Harvest of the first fruits of your labors from what you sow in the field; also the Feast of the Ingathering at the end of the year when you gather in the fruit of your labors from the field." The Feast of the Ingathering is for giving thanks to God who helps people grow grains well and harvest them. After harvesting, gathering, and storing them, they offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving and completed the cultivation of the year.
God had the Israelites offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving with fruit harvested in the Promised Land, Canaan, so that they could remember the 40-year time of suffering in the wilderness. That is, God allowed them to give thanks to Him who delivered and guided the people of Israel. For this same reason, He proclaimed a perpetual statute—to live in tabernacles for seven days a year (Leviticus 23:42-43).
The Feast of Tabernacles is observed after the harvests of olives and grapes to give thanks to God (Leviticus 23:34-41). On the first day there is a holy convocation and people stay in tabernacles and rejoice before God for seven days. This is intended to let the Israelites for generations remember that they had lived in tents in the wilderness after Exodus. They also have a rest on the eighth day and by holding a holy convocation it is observed as the great day of salvation.
Thanksgiving Day has a spiritually deep meaning
John 7:37-39 says, "Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, 'If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, "From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water."' But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive."
The Israelites believed that the Messiah would come on the Feast of Tabernacles based on the Old Testament. That is why Jesus said on the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, 'From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.'"
God lets mankind, who were destined to the way of destruction due to the disobedience of the first man Adam, know Jesus Christ and gain the right to become God's children by receiving the Holy Spirit. Furthermore, God prepares Heaven and helps us live in God's will and rejoice, give thanks, and pray. He also gives those who ask, lets those who seek find, and lets those who knock open.
Thanksgiving Sunday that is observed these days originated from Puritans
Puritans are Christians who felt that the Church of England was so corrupt that true Christians should separate from it altogether. So, they took their own way and separated from England and went to America. Even while they underwent many ups and downs in the new settlement, they offered up the first harvest with their hearts and gave sacrifice to God. It is the origin of Thanksgiving holiday. God blessed them who didn't forsake their faith and cultivated their land diligently to reap according to what they have sown.
We need to understand the spiritual meaning of Thanksgiving Sunday
We should render sacrifice of thanks with all our hearts and mind and thanks for delivering us from death and giving true life through Jesus Christ (Psalm 56:12-13). In addition, we need to give offerings with all our hearts and with faith and joy (2 Corinthians 9:7). Galatians 6:7 reads, "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap." We hope you will give God-pleasing thanksgiving offering to Him and receive answers to your prayer.
 Missionary Charonne Kang from Israel
The unforgettable time in the wilderness for 40 years, The Israelites' Feast of Tabernacles
Jews often say and use the word 'Remember'. They try to remember the 40-year-life of the Israelites in the wilderness and let their children experience the life firsthand. For instance, they eat or sleep with their family in tabernacles for seven days.
On each day of the holiday, members of the household recite a blessing over the lulav (closed frond of the date palm tree, bound with boughs and branches of the willow and myrtle trees) and etrog (yellow citron)—four species (Leviticus 23:40). The reason why they hold etrog in their left hands is to let it stay close to their heart that is one of the most important organs of the body.
The Feast of Tabernacles is around the beginning of rainy season. With hope for enough rain in the season, they wave branches of palm trees three times in all directions and towards the sky and the earth. It expresses that God is omnipresent and He listens to their prayer.
After the Israelites finished the 40-year-life in the wilderness and entered the land of Canaan, they tried to remember the past time by observing the Feast of Tabernacles. But they had to wander without their country for around 2,000 years. Why is that?
This is because they did not recognize Jesus the Son of God as their Savior even though He came to the earth to save them and they crucified Him. Nevertheless, God let them recover their country and has given constant love to them through the Israeli ministry so that they can accept the gospel.
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