Did you know that God loves celebrations?  In fact, he even commanded his people in Israel to come together and enjoy eating together and worshipping together.  This blog will be short and sweet followed by pretty pictures.  I know you’re busy, but I also know your soul needs food as much as your body.  So here’s some soul food in small bites.

We Americans often think of the Thanksgiving holiday as beginning with the Pilgrims.  But did you know that there are older and deeper roots for celebrating this holiday?  I’ve been studying the Old Testament feasts or festivals that God himself initiated for the benefit of his people in Israel.  I soon realized that two of the feasts were tied to the harvest cycle.  The first came in the Spring and the second in the Fall.

 ^“First, celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread. For seven days the bread you eat must be made without yeast, just as I commanded you. Celebrate this festival annually at the appointed time in early spring, in the month of Abib, for that is the anniversary of your departure from Egypt. No one may appear before me without an offering.
 “Second, celebrate the Festival of Harvest, when you bring me the first crops of your harvest.
“Finally, celebrate the Festival of the Final Harvest at the end of the harvest season, when you have harvested all the crops from your fields.  At these three times each year, every man in Israel must appear before the Sovereign, the Lord.”  Exodus 23:15-17

I love that the Lord instituted these celebrations and specifically included all strata of society.  Their celebrations were to include those who had menial, low-paying jobs and those who were respected religious teachers.  They were to include those with families, and those without families- the orphans, widows, and foreigners.  God reminded them that they came from slavery so they should now be compassionate to those less fortunate.

“Then celebrate the Festival of Harvest (Pentecost or Shabuoth) to honor the Lord your God. Bring him a voluntary offering in proportion to the blessings you have received from him.  This is a time to celebrate before the Lord your God at the designated place of worship he will choose for his name to be honored. Celebrate with your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, the Levites from your towns, and the foreigners, orphans, and widows who live among you.  Remember that you were once slaves in Egypt, so be careful to obey all these decrees.”  Deuteronomy 16:9-12

 “You must observe the Festival of Shelters (Sukkot) for seven days at the end of the harvest season after the grain has been threshed and the grapes have been pressed. This festival will be a happy time of celebrating with your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, and the Levites, foreigners, orphans, and widows from your towns.  For seven days you must celebrate this festival to honor the Lord your God at the place he chooses, for it is he who blesses you with bountiful harvests and gives you success in all your work. This festival will be a time of great joy for all.”  Deuteronomy 16:13-15

When we look at the Old Testament feasts, we see that God wanted his people to remember him by thanking him for their harvests and their successes.  He wanted these times of thanks to be joyful and experienced together with family and including those who have less.  He wanted them to enjoy giving, eating, and worshiping together.

Here are some pretty pictures to help you remember where your blessings come from.  Happy Thanksgiving!