Thanksgiving

Well, that was very special and beautiful special music, and we appreciate everyone participating in it. Mr. Capotee's part. This coming Thursday is Thanksgiving Day. Big family meals, turkey, vegetable dishes, galore, pumpkin pie. A lot of families getting together. Today I'd like for us to talk about Thanksgiving, American history, and promises to Abraham. That's the title of this message. Thanksgiving, blessings, American history, and promises to Abraham. You know, when I took American history in high school, it was the 11th grade. It was taught by our football coach. He was asking early on if what we thought was the source of America's greatness. And you know his answer to that was know-how. The reason America is so great is because of American know-how. When you think about it in a way that is a put-down of other people, as in other nations, that is not really the source of the blessings that we enjoy in this country. So I'd like for us today to get, first of all, to the real source of our Thanksgiving bounty. We're going to sit down, most of us, to a meal. Of course, we sit down to Thanksgiving meals every day, don't we? We have an abundance of food. Most of us are refrigerators, our pantries are full of food. We're not going hungry at all. We're very, very blessed. And it's been that way all of our lives. And we take it probably for granted instead of being as thankful as we should be. And I hope this message today will help us to be more thankful this coming Thursday, and be more thankful every day, really. In our country, every day is a Thanksgiving day. We are so blessed. Why do you think people are streaming across our southern border? It's because they're trying to get a better life. They're trying to get a little piece of the birthright blessings that are here, that we have had all of our lives and probably do take for granted to at least some extent. I'd like to quote, as far as the source of our Thanksgiving bounty, I'd like to quote from our booklet. No, I'm sorry. Yeah, our booklet on the fundamental beliefs of the United Church of God. Do you know one of our fundamental beliefs does give the source of the Thanksgiving bounty that we will enjoy this coming Thursday? Reading the promises to Abraham, fundamental belief number 15 of United Church of God. God made physical and spiritual promises to Abraham. The physical promises involved physical greatness for His descendants. I will make you a great nation. These physical promises were formally passed on to Abraham's descendants, Isaac, then Jacob. Then they were passed on to Joseph, and finally to Joseph's two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, who worked to become, respectively, a multitude of nations and a great people. So, the promises to Abraham, I think we're very much aware of those promises. We have studied that, those verses in Genesis that describe the greatness of nations that would descend from Abraham.

I think we're pretty much familiar with that. But let's just read a couple of verses here that, you know, my history teacher should have begun American history back in the book of Genesis. The greatness of America begins in Genesis chapter 12 with the promises to Abraham, which were then passed on to Isaac, which were then passed on to Jacob, which were then passed on to the twelve sons of Jacob. But the birthright promises were passed on to Joseph and to Ephraim and Manasseh. American history begins in the book of Genesis, and I think that's something good for us to realize as we now come to Thanksgiving this coming Thursday.

Let's read in Genesis 35. We'll need to read some of these verses rather quickly. We're familiar with them. In Genesis 35 and verse 10, here Jacob is on his way back to the land of Canaan out of Peryan.

In verse 10, God said to him, Your name is Jacob. Your name shall not be called Jacob anymore, but Israel shall be your name. So he called his name Israel. And God said to him, I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply. A nation and a company of nations shall proceed from you, and kings shall come from your body.

In the land I gave Abraham and Isaac, I give to you and your descendants after you, I give this land. Well, let's skip on over real quickly to Genesis chapter 48. We get further description of the physical side of these promises that were given to Abraham. In chapter 48, we know that here Jacob had come into the land of Egypt. He had found out that Joseph was yet alive. So he spent a number of years, about 17 years, before he died with Joseph there in the land of Egypt.

And Joseph brought his two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, and he wanted them to be blessed by his father. And Jacob put his hands, he crossed his hands and put his right hand upon the younger one, Ephraim, and his left hand upon the older one, Manasseh. And we know that Joseph tried to say, not so my father. He wanted the right hand on the oldest one. But verse 19, his father refused and said, I know my son, I know. He also, that is Manasseh, shall become a people, and he shall be great. But truly, his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his descendants shall become a multitude of nations. Here, this promise of a great nation and a multitude of nations is passed on to Joseph, in particular to his two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh.

Now we can read in 1 Chronicles, I believe that's chapter 5, that the birthright promises were passed on to Joseph. I want you to notice in chapter 49 how these birthright promises were to be granted. In chapter 49 and verse 1, just before Jacob's death, he had his sons together together. Verse 1, that I may tell you what shall befall you when in the last days. Brother, this jumps on far ahead, doesn't it, to our time today. Tell you what shall befall you in the last days. And then he talks about Reuben, what Reuben could expect in verse 3, and right on down Judah, Zebulun, Issachar, different ones.

But notice about Joseph in verse 22. And, brethren, this is the source of our thanksgiving blessings. This coming Thursday, as we sit down to the bountiful meal, as you go home today and even have a bountiful lunch, and you have plenty of food in your refrigerator and in your pantry, then I hope that we'll keep this sermon in mind. Hope we'll keep it in mind after Thanksgiving Day, every day, and be thankful to God that we live in this country. What a blessing it is to live in the United States.

Not only do we have all the physical blessings that we enjoy, but we also have freedom. We have liberty. We're able to have freedom of speech and be able to assemble together peacefully how blessed we are. We take a lot for granted. Those people streaming across the southern border, some of them are criminals. They're in here to do a lot of harm, but many of them are just seeking a better way of life. The ability to have food on the table, to share some of the blessings that we have. Look at verse 22 about Joseph.

Here's the source of our thanksgiving blessings. Joseph is a fruitful bough, a fruitful bough by a well. His branches run over the wall. The archers have bitterly grieved him. People have shot at Joseph, at the United States and Britain. Shot at him and hated him, but his bow remained in strife. There has been a certain strength in the United States and Britain as well. The arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob.

So God is the one that really made that possible. Verse 25, by the God of your Father, who will help you, and by the Almighty, who will bless you with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lies beneath, blessings of the breasts and of the womb, blessings of your Father have excelled the blessings of my ancestors up to the utmost bound of the everlasting hills. They shall be on the head of Joseph and on the crown of the head of him, who was separate from his brothers. Brother, this is the source of our thanksgiving blessings that we enjoy all the time and that we commemorate this coming Thursday.

You know, again, verse 1 says these words were spoken by whom? Jacob, right? Let's go over now to Deuteronomy 33, and we'll get Moses' take on the birthright blessings that came to Joseph. These words here in Deuteronomy chapter 33, Deuteronomy chapter 33 and verse 1, notice that this is the blessing with which Moses, the man of God, blessed the children of Israel before his death. So this is hundreds of years after Genesis 49 when Jacob issued what we just read. Hundreds of years later, Moses, here's what Moses said of Joseph in verse 13. Of Joseph, he said, this is Moses now, Blessed of the Lord is his land with the precious things of heaven, with the dew, with the deep line beneath, with the precious fruits of the sun, with the precious produce of the months, with the best things of the ancient mountains, with the precious things of the everlasting hills, with the precious things of the earth in its fullness, and the favor of him who dwelt in the bush.

Let the blessing come on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him who was separate from his brothers. His glory is like a firstborn bull. His horns are like the horns of the wild ox. Together with them he shall push the peoples to the ends of the earth.

And Britain and the United States have done some of that, haven't they? They are the ten thousands of Ephraim, they are the thousands of Manasseh. So, brethren, this is the source of our thanksgiving blessings.

What was the purpose? I want us to deviate just a little bit. We have concentrated on Joseph and Ephraim and Manasseh, but actually God has blessed all of the tribes of Israel. When you look at the Jewish people, have they been blessed today? Yes, they have. What about the democracies of northwestern Europe, like Denmark, Sweden, Norway? Have they been blessed? They have. Those are from the tribes of ancient Israel. The ancient Israelite tribes came into northwestern Europe. And they have been richly, physically blessed. But when God gives blessings like He has given to the United States and Britain and to the northwestern Europeans and the Jewish people, what's the purpose? Is there a responsibility that goes with those blessings? I'd like for us to look at that. Let's go back to Exodus 19. God expects the Israelite tribes to use all this wealth that He has allowed them to have as an example to other nations of His way of life. In other words, they are to exemplify God's way of life. That was what God expected of the Israelite tribes, all 12 of them. Notice in Exodus 19, verse 5, Therefore if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to me. He's speaking there at the foot of Mount Sinai. All 12 tribes are assembled there. They're about to receive the Ten Commandments. They're about to enter the Old Covenant with God, with actually Christ. And here they are. They are to obey God's voice. They're to keep the commandments of God, keep my covenant that was about to be made with them. Then you will be a special treasure to me above all people, for all the earth is mine. Verse 6, You shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. That's what God expected of the Israelites. Well, they were to be an example. They were to exemplify God's way of life. That when God's way of life is followed, it produces good results in every way. Physical blessings, stable society, strong family life, just no crime, no corruption, evil. While following God's way, they would show other nations, hey, this is the way to do it. Other nations were to see them as a holy people, an example. Let's go to Deuteronomy 4, and that explains a little bit more what God expected to happen of the Israelite tribes. And I would think of special responsibility upon Joseph because he gave Joseph the birthright. Okay, Chapter 4, and let's read Verse 6.

You know, God's way is a holy, righteous way. It just works. It works in every way as far as human conduct, relationships between peoples, nations. God's way works. So Israel was to be a kingdom of priests, a holy nation. And the physical blessings that God would give them would just demonstrate that God's way produces good results. Well, let's skip on ahead. Did ancient Israel ever, did ancient Americans and British, that is, Ephraimites and Manassites, did they ever exemplify God's way of life? And the answer is no. You can read in the prophets. Isaiah, you know, we think of them as foretelling things in the future. The prophets, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, the minor prophets. And they do foretell things in the future, prophecies of what is to happen. But you know, there's so much. I think it must be probably half of the prophets is just showing how the Israelites failed to live up to what was expected of them. They failed to live up to their responsibility. God did bless them. God blessed them richly back at that time. And what did they do? They corrupted themselves. But guess what? Those scriptures have been written down because modern-day Israel is doing the very same thing. We are corrupting ourselves. We are losing our moral ground. As we lose our moral ground, we are losing respect, power, and influence in the world. We don't have the same moral influence we had in the world at one time. That's because of the way that we are living. We will not have time to read all the verses to show that ancient Israel failed and modern-day Israel likewise is failing.

Let's turn vote to Isaiah chapter 1. We'll read at least these verses because it kind of summarizes what you'll find in Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the minor prophets.

Let's begin reading in verse 2.

Isaiah chapter 1 and verse 2.

And they have rebelled against me.

The ox knows its honor, the donkey its master's crib. But Israel does not know. My people do not consider. Alas, sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a brood of evildoers, children who are corrupted. They have forsaken the Lord. They have provoked to anger the Holy One of Israel. They have turned away backward. Why should you be stricken again? You will revolt more and more. The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faints. From the sole of the foot, even to the head, there is no soundness in it, but wounds and bruises and putrefying sores. You know, more and more, that is describing what we see in our own beloved country. And I will hasten to add, though, that is not true of everyone. And it is felt by some that we might still be a nation where there are people that stand up for what is right, that we have a good number of people. Maybe half, some even feel that our nation is a little bit to the right of center as far as liberal versus conservative. And conservative being the more biblical principles that our nation has been built upon and has made us strong.

So maybe we are just a little bit to the right of center still, or are we? The liberal left is gaining rapidly, and it is bringing us down, down. Keep watching, because this is leading to the time in the Bible that is called Jacob's Trouble. Yes, the Bible has many scriptures that foretell a time of trouble for Jacob, and this will fall heavily upon the heads of Manasseh and Ephraim. We have been given such power in the last few centuries since about the 1600s. The British Empire, the sun never set upon it, had such powerful influence, so strong, so powerful. Nobody could stand up to the British land. The United States came along in the 1900s. Same thing. Great power, great wealth. Which has continued until now, but we're losing that power, both economically and militarily as well. So what's going to happen in the years ahead? God is going to refine us, and I want to spend just a very few minutes on that. Let's read Isaiah chapter 4 and verse 2.

Isaiah chapter 4 and verse 2. God is going to refine our people. Isaiah chapter 4 and verse 2, In that day the branch of the Lord shall be beautiful and glorious. It's talking about the time when Christ will have returned to set up God's kingdom. The fruit of the earth shall be excellent and appealing for those of Israel who have escaped. Oh, they were in a captivity. Verse 3, It shall come to the past that he who is left in Zion, and he who remains in Jerusalem shall be called holy. We're going to be a refined people. Everyone who is recorded among the living in Jerusalem, when the Lord has washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion and purged the blood of Jerusalem from her midst by the spirit of judgment and by the spirit of burning. God is going to bring upon our people a refinement. Let's also read in Isaiah 48 and verse 10. Isaiah 48 and verse 10, Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver. I have tested you, how?, in the furnace of affliction. Brethren, God foretells a time when our nation is going to be refined in a furnace of affliction. These verses are talking about Israel. Go back to verse 1, you'll see that it's referring to the house of Israel. So there's a coming captivity that will refine America and Britain and the other Israelite tribes. And it's going to clean up the swamp. There will not be any remaining people that want to believe in abortion, living together unmarried. All kinds of evils that we see going on in our country today. God is going to clean it up. Do you know, when God begins to clean up our country, our people are going to look upon themselves and say, How could we ever have believed that? How could we ever have lived that way? There are several scriptures that use the word loathe. We are going to loathe ourselves and shake our heads that we ever could have gone this way. We've become so liberal that almost anything goes. Almost anything. So God is going to clean up the swamp. And He's going to actually exclude all the stubborn and rebellious who do not want to change and repent. And those who remain are going to be the ones who are broken in spirit and heart. Weeping, even. Let's go to Jeremiah chapter 31. Jeremiah chapter 31. The Israelites that come through this time of refinement are going to come back weeping, it says, in verse 9. Jeremiah 31. Jeremiah 31 and verse 9. They shall come with weeping, and with supplications I will lead them. Let's also read from Jeremiah 50 and verse 4. Jeremiah chapter 50 and verse 4. In those days and in that time, says the Lord, the children of Israel shall come. They and the children of Judah together. Brethren, it's going to be Americans and British, the North Western, European nations, the Jewish people. God's going to put all 12 tribes through a time of refinement. But they will come, all of them together, what? With continual weeping they shall come, and seek the Lord their God. They shall ask the way to Zion with their faces toward it, saying, Come and let us join ourselves to the Lord in a perpetual covenant. And verse 6 says, My people have been lost sheep. They even called the 10 northern tribes the lost tribes of Israel. So God is going to bring Israel out of a time of refinement, a time of captivity. There will be tears of repentance, tears of being set free from a horrible captivity, a great humbling that we cannot begin to imagine.

I wonder if we can visualize what is happening here. Can you imagine that coming out of captivity, the tribes of Israel, with weeping, they will have a first love. Do you remember the first love that you had? And I hope that you still have for the truth. The Israelites are going to have a first love that is going to be infectious. It's going to be something that runs deep in them. They will have the love of God, and they will have God's Spirit. And you know, at last, they are going to be that model nation that God called them to be. At last. So, you know, as we come to word Thanksgiving this year, we can think about the blessings, all the Thanksgiving blessings that we enjoy, that our nation is taking for granted, that we have corrupted ourselves more and more. We've used our wealth in a good way over the decades or centuries, but there have been so many bad ways that we have influenced the world. American culture is all around the world. You go anywhere, you'll find our movies, you'll find our music. And I don't know about you, but I'm having trouble finding any music that is produced that I really think is just uplifting and makes you feel inspired. It seems like in our movies, it's hard to find movies that don't have violence, crime, sex, illicit sex, things of that type. I don't know if you can find any, maybe one known then. But our nation is going to be cleaned up, and they're going to be a model nation of loyalty and commitment and love to God yet. Israel is going to fill the earth with good fruit, one verse says. And so all during the 1,000 years, the 12 tribes are going to, at last, fulfill their sacred mission. Let's turn to a couple of verses back in Isaiah on that. Isaiah 43. This is in the context of Israel restored out of captivity, having been refined, and now able to serve as God's model nation and exemplify God's way of life at last. And so that is good to see, to know that our people are yet going to fulfill that purpose that God anciently had in mind.

Back in the book of Genesis, Isaiah 43 and verse 1.

The Israelites are going to be God's model nation.

Verse 21 says, The Israelites are going to proclaim the praise of God. Chapter 44 and verse 1. Hear now, O Jacob, my servant, and Israel, whom I have chosen. Thus says the Lord, who made you and formed you from the womb, who will help you. Fear not, O Jacob, my servant.

And then in the same chapter, verse 21, chapter 44 and verse 21. Remember these, O Jacob and Israel, for you are my servant. I have formed you. You are my servant. O Israel, you will not be forgotten by me. So Israel will be God's servant nation to the world. They're going to show the world how it should be done. Let's go to Isaiah 27 and verse 6 as well. The converted Israelites then will be used by God to do a lot of good for nations all over the earth. Isaiah 27 and verse 6. Those who come, he shall cause to take root in Jacob. Israel shall blossom and bud and fill the face of the earth with fruit. And we're going to fill the earth with a lot better fruit than we have been doing at this time. Brethren, God has never forgotten his purpose. We have rushed through a lot of this, but you can read a lot more if you'd like in our booklet, United States and Britain in Bible Prophecy. The last chapter, especially from punishment to destiny, shows how our people are yet going to be that example that God chose them to be. I'd like to read just a little bit here on page 108. Finally, Israel will at last really be the world's model nation. Exemplifying the blessings and way of life, other nations will strive to emulate. And isn't that wonderful? I think even today, America and Britain at this time have had a desire to make the world better. But in our unconverted state, and becoming more corrupt all the time, we're just not able to do that. It will take a converted Israel to do it. It goes on page 108. The glory of the restored Israel will shine far greater than Israel's golden age under Solomon. Israel will finally become the example God intended her to be. And then I like this paragraph. God has not forgotten, nor will he ever forget his promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The pages of history and prophecies yet to be fulfilled show God remaining true to every detail of his word. God is going to bring that to pass. So, good things to read. I would say, fundamental belief number 15 promises to Abraham. This booklet, United States and Britain, last chapter especially, pertains to our time and just ahead. So, let's conclude by saying I'd like to encourage our parents and families to talk about these things. I hope that you'll do some discussion, maybe some Bible reading, read some of the verses in Genesis and other books about these promises to Abraham. And that is actually the explanation for the blessings that we have Thanksgiving Day. Let's teach our children. Have family Bible studies and discussions. And, of course, all of us realize where these national blessings come from.

So, as we keep Thanksgiving Day on Thursday, I hope we will remember the source of our Thanksgiving blessings and that we understand the background to the better of American history. American history begins in Genesis 12 and verse 1, the promises to Abraham.

And, you know, I'd like to end on this note that I hope we all will be thankful for our nation. Be thankful for the freedom, the liberty, the freedom of worship, the right to assemble. So, the freedom of speech and just the physical blessings. Look at your refrigerator, your pantry. I don't think any of us are going hungry. We have plenty of food and how blessed we are. And even though this is not a sacred holy day of God, it's appropriate that our nation sets aside a Thanksgiving Day. And I hope we can have a religious side of that on this special day. And be thankful. We're truly thankful to God for such physical blessings. And also remember and look forward to the time when our nation will fulfill its purpose to exemplify God's way of life and be a model nation to the world.