Thanksgiving, A Bitter Sweet Time

Thanksgiving, an American holiday, is a time of joy and thanks for many, but a time of sorrow for others.  To numerous modern-day Americans (especially among the religious community) it is a time of giving thanks to God for all the blessings in their lives.  On the contrary, for some Native Americans it is a time of bitterness and sadness in remembrance of the genocide of their people/lifestyle by the hands of Europeans who took this land and eventually made it into: "the United States of America."  Some choose not to celebrate this day because they feel it is a dishonor to their ancestors, while others have moved forward and see it as a time of unification.  There have been many tragedies in the history of the United States, but it is also true that beauty can rise from ashes!  Many of us would not be here or alive today if not for the grueling history of our ancestors.  Despite a rough history, we have a lot to be thankful for today.

Many historians have concluded that the festival of Thanksgiving is rooted in the Biblical Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot), a time of harvest and giving joyous thanks to God.  Many of the pilgrims who came to this land were devout Puritans who saw themselves as the "New Israel" that observed the Jews of Holland celebrating Sukkot.  What later became the "United States of America" was seen as a "promised land" to their pilgrimage, a "holy mission," and an Exodus-like event.  Of course, the dreadful pillage and slaughter upon this land was NOT something commanded by God, nor is this land a replacement to the land of Israel where God placed His Name, none the less, this mission was called: "Manifest Destiny."

Those who choose to celebrate this American Holiday have a great opportunity to join together with their friends, family and loved ones for a big meal and celebration.  It is a Holiday where families that are split in faith can share a common Holiday together.  Messianic-believers celebrate God's Holy Days, the Biblical feasts, but stay away from Holidays rooted in paganism such as Christmas and Easter--- the holidays that most of the world celebrates.  Thanksgiving is an American holiday rooted in a Biblical Holy Day, rather than paganism.  What better time is there to get everyone together for a meal than this?

"I will praise the Name of God with a song, and will magnify Him with thanksgiving!" (Psalm 69:30)

"Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto Him with psalms!" (Psalm 95:2)

"Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His Name!" (Psalm 100:4)