November 23, 2022 – Thanksgiving Eve Text: Deuteronomy 8:1-10
Dear Friends in Christ,
If you live long enough, you know that each year has challenges of its own. Are there some years that are worse than others? That would make a great debate topic. Some things affect all of us – pandemics, the economy, politics, taxes, utility bills. But other events in life are individual. A close relative dying can make for a rough year. A child that starts living a new lifestyle can break a heart. Or things can make for a good year – a once-in-a-lifetime vacation, the birth of a child or grandchild, witnessing a baptism or confirmation, positive health news. How do we during all of this, give thanks?
2022 had moments out of our control that changed everyone’s life. We came out of the pandemic, but the people in charge never quite let it go. We paid more at the pump since the days of Hurricane Katrina. Electric and natural gas rates are at their highest in decades. Maybe the election wave you wanted was a trickle. Supply chain issues were a concern. But in the midst of all of this, did you ever go wanting? Do you ever not have enough food, or shelter, or gas? We complain about a product not on the shelf but miss the food on our table. Ever ask the question . . .
“THANKFUL? THIS YEAR!?”
Our text from Deuteronomy. “You shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not. And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.” (vs. 2-3)
We studied the Exodus in depth in Adult Bible Class. One of the things we all learned was how many times the Israelites grumbled. These people were never happy. They took out their hostility on Moses and on Aaron and on the Lord God. They didn’t just live a bad year. They lived 40 bad years in row – just a wanderin’ with no place to call home.
God had sent them to the wilderness to humble their hearts. God knew they could not properly receive His gifts – the Promised Land and the Promised Savior – without a little teaching. The Israelites were relying on their wisdom and abilities. By letting them endure hopelessness and hunger, the Lord God showed His beloved people that they need His salvation. “Man does not live on bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.”
Whatever we have experienced in 2022 we can still say that God’s fatherly, divine goodness and mercy are infinite and boundless. The Word of the Lord is still being proclaimed. Most everyone who has been away from worship has come back. New people are coming to hear God’s Word. Yes, we too have been humbled. We have seen the ability of man only goes so far. We can only control certain things. God’s Word is the ultimate control. We live on that.
God’s Word promised the Israelites a land flowing with blessing. That promise sustained the people trekking through the wilderness. In the day-to-day they were frustrated. The Lord’s promise gave them hope and kept them going. They forgot the past and pressed forward to the great goal God was giving them.
The same is true for us, friends. When we get frustrated with high gas prices and rental cars and hotel rooms and no new cars and months of waiting for a product and endless political battles and crimes going unpunished and the progressives making headway – we have a sure Word of comfort. That Word is the salvation promised in Jesus, who delivers us from this valley of sorrows to himself in heaven, based solely on His love for us. We believers can forget what lies behind and we can set our face joyfully to the blessings that lie ahead.
In God’s Word, we learn to be content. In God’s Word, we see how truly blessed we are. In God’s Word, we are comforted in affliction, fed when spiritually hungry, strengthened when weak, loved when loveless, at peace when terrified, and forgiven for Christ’s sake when guilty.
God has made me laugh more this year than almost any year I can remember. He continues to remind me that He is in control. Has He done the same for you? Have you noticed? Did you see His hand in your life? Do you give thanks to the One who has given you so much?
Our Promised Land is in the distance for most of us. Or it could be right around the next corner. Christ has gone ahead of us to prepare that place. He has secured that place by His blood, and He communicates that to us through His Word and Sacraments.
Thankful? This Year!? You bet. We have a promise that makes this year and every year a time to give thanks.
Amen.