Thanks Giving

 
Thanks Giving

By Pastor Dan Kennedy
© November 24, 2013
www.pastorkennedy.com

We celebrate Thanksgiving every year on the fourth Thursday of November, to remember, and give thanks for all the blessings that God has given us, for our free country, and for our forefathers, in particular, the Pilgrims who risked so much to come to this new continent so they could practice the worship of God without persecution and to have a new life.

Today we are not focusing on the traditional American Thanksgiving, but on four stories that invoked thanks giving in Biblical times; four stories in which Thanks Giving, as with the Pilgrims, was born out of the furnace of great trials, earnest cries to God for help, by His Children, and heartfelt thanks for His Mercy. 

Four Stories of Biblical Thanks Giving

“Thanks Giving” seldom has more meaning and more depth than when we have gone through, or are going through great trial.


1. Thanks Giving in the Furnace of Great Tragedy

Job
Most of us have heard about and know about Job – the ancient Godly man who experienced the astounding trauma of his great wealth and close family being swallowed up and snatched away in a moment of time through demonic oppressive forces.

Job 1:2–5 (Read the full text of Job 1, in the Addendum at the end of these notes)
Job had seven sons and three daughters in his close-knit family. 
Job’s assets included: 
•	7,000 sheep, 
•	3,000 camels, 
•	500 yoke of oxen, and 
•	500 female donkeys, and 
•	very many servants, 

… this man was the greatest of all the people of the east. 

Job 1:13–19 
Satan Takes Job’s Property and Children – all at the same time.

•	The Sabeans steal all Job’s oxen and donkey and kill the servants watching them.
•	The fire of God falls from heaven and burns up all of Job’s sheep and the majority of his servants watching them.
•	Three raiding groups of Chaldeans steal Job’s camels, killing Job’s servants caring for them. 
•	A great windstorm (tornado?) sweeps across the wilderness and destroys the house and kills his seven sons and three daughters who were eating together inside.

Job’s response was to thank God, not blame God, in the moment of the extremity of his loss of his great wealth and tight-knit family.

Job 1:20–22 
20 Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. 21 And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” 
22 In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong. 

How would you and I respond after experiencing such devastation?  Would we respond in Thanks Giving like God’s servant, Job?  

•	Would we blame God or thank Him?

What made Job great?  

•	Was it his massive wealth that made him great?

•	No – Job wasn’t great because of what he had.

Job was great because of his love, faith and Thanks Giving to God - revealed in the furnace of great tragedy.  This is what made him great!
And, Job was not only great then – but now, thousands of years later, before us all, we esteem Job to be a great man – and one day, for all eternity we will respect Job’s faith, love and Thanks Giving!  …Now that is being GREAT!

If you are a believer in Jesus Christ and have been transformed to be God’s Child by His Holy Spirit…you and I will be able to meet Job and have friendship with him throughout eternity.  By the way, everyone in heaven will be able to see how “great” we are too…in God’s terms of “greatness”!


2. Thanks Giving in Times of Injustice and Pain

Paul and Silas in Prison
Many of us may remember the story of Paul and Silas in prison.  It is a story of “injustice, pain and Thanks Giving”.

Acts 16:16–34 (see the full text in the Addendum)

The Annoying Demon Possessed Fortune Teller

Remember when Paul was trying to understand the Lord’s mind in where to go to next to preach the Gospel, and God gave him a dream of a man in Macedonia calling out to “Come over and help us”?

Paul and Silas sailed to Philippi, the leading city in the district of Macedonia and stayed there many days.  On the Sabbath, instead of going to the Synagogue, they went outside the gates down to the river, and joined several women who had gathered to pray.  The Lord opened a women’s heart by the name of Lydia, a seller of purple cloth, and she believed on Christ as her Messiah.  Lydia’s home became a central place from which Paul and Silas began sharing the Gospel.

As Paul and Silas were leaving this prayer group by the river, a demon possessed girl who had become a fortuneteller, making money for her “pimps”, began following Paul and Silas, crying out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.”  She kept following them around and yelling this about them for several days.
After having taken about as much as he could take, Paul became really annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And the demon came out that very hour. 
When the woman’s handlers – the ones making money because of her, realized they couldn’t make any more money because she lost the demonic power of her predictions, they grabbed Paul and Silas, dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers, who brought them to the magistrates, and said, “These men are Jews, and they are disturbing our city. They advocate customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to accept or practice.” The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods.  When they had severely beaten Paul and Silas, they threw them into prison, and ordered the jailer to keep them safely.  The jailer put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. 
Paul and Silas Give Thanks Giving to God in Prison
Acts 16:25–26 
25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, 26 and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were unfastened.

The Jailer wanted to Know about God
      	Acts 16:27–31
27 When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” 29 And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. 30 Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

The Jailer and his family trust Christ 
and are Baptized - Acts 16:32-34
 32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. 34 Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God. 

Thanksgiving is a viable means to strengthen us to glorify God during times of injustice and pain.  We might not be so thrilled at the time of these pains, but when personal injustice and pain are reversed to become a means to bring others into the Kingdom of God, we can worship God that He has used “all things together for the good to those who love God…who are called according to His purpose”!  

ANXIETY OR THANKS GIVING?
Paul and Silas exampled to us how we can sing Thanks Giving to the Lord when we are thrown, without preparation, into a desperately negative situation.  

Now let’s look at an example of Thanks Giving to the Lord when we know trouble is coming, but isn’t here yet!  A looming destruction of which we may be aware of days, weeks, or even months before its confrontation and our potentially supposed annihilation!  During these times anxiety can easily prevail over Thanks Giving…but should it?

Judah’s King Jehoshaphat was confronted with a horrible problem.  Hoards of old family tribes were rushing toward Judah to consume their nation.  What should he do?


3. Thanks Giving when Facing Overwhelming Odds – confrontations from even those who should be considered “family”

The Major Nations – Family Nations from the same bloodline as Abraham… Moving against Israel to Destroy Her

2 Chronicles 20:1–30 (read the full text in the Addendum)

“A great multitude is coming against you from Edom - Moabites and Ammonites, with some Meunites, from beyond the sea…and they aren’t very far away!” (v. 1-2)

	Were did the Moabites and Ammonites originate?
•	Read all of Genesis 19 regarding Lot, the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah and Lot’s daughters (vs. 30-38)
	How did Abraham’s nephew Lot fit into the picture? (See Genesis 13 and 19)
	What happened when Israel was wandering in the wilderness, after having left Egypt?  They passed by land owned by Edomites, the Moabites, and the Ammonites?  (See Deut. 2:9; 19)

What do you do when you are afraid of an impending disaster?

•	Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, was afraid
•	He set his face to seek the Lord, 
•	He proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.
•	The nation of Judah assembled from all its cities to seek the Lord. (v. 3-4)

Jehoshaphat the king, cried out to God for His help, when all the people were assembled together (2 Chronicles 20:5-12)
“All Judah stood before the Lord, with their little ones, their wives, and their children.” (v. 13)

5 And Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord, before the new court, 6 and said, “O Lord, God of our fathers, are you not God in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. In your hand are power and might, so that none is able to withstand you. 7 Did you not, our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel, and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend? 8 And they have lived in it and have built for you in it a sanctuary for your name, saying, 9 ‘If disaster comes upon us, the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house and before you—for your name is in this house—and cry out to you in our affliction, and you will hear and save.’ 10 And now behold, the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir, whom you would not let Israel invade when they came from the land of Egypt, and whom they avoided and did not destroy— 11 behold, they reward us by coming to drive us out of your possession, which you have given us to inherit. 12 O our God, will you not execute judgment on them? For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” 

13 Meanwhile all Judah stood before the Lord, with their little ones, their wives, and their children. 

Jahaziel the son of Zechariah Prophesies Victory for Judah
14 And the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, in the midst of the assembly.

15 And he said, “Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: Thus says the Lord to you, ‘Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God’s. 16 Tomorrow go down against them. Behold, they will come up by the ascent of Ziz. You will find them at the end of the valley, east of the wilderness of Jeruel. 17 You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, and the Lord will be with you.” 

18 Then Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the Lord, worshiping the Lord. 19 And the Levites, of the Kohathites and the Korahites, stood up to praise the Lord, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice. 

20 And they rose early in the morning and went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. And when they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, 

“Hear me, Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe in the Lord your God, and you will be established; believe his prophets, and you will succeed.” 

21 And when he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to the Lord and praise him in holy attire, as they went before the army, and say, 
			
			“Give thanks to the Lord, 
for his steadfast love endures forever.” 

22 And when they began to sing and praise, the Lord set an ambush against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah, so that they were routed. 23 For the men of Ammon and Moab rose against the inhabitants of Mount Seir, devoting them to destruction, and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, they all helped to destroy one another. 
Thanks Giving can be a time when we Praise God in the middle of serious situations, or when God does a miracle for us in His deliverance, but Thanks Giving should also be part of our daily worship of God.

4. Thanks Giving – A Time to Worship and Praise our God

Learning to worship with songs of Praise and Thanks Giving.

King David wrote a special song of Thanks Giving and Praise when the Ark of the Covenant was finally brought back into Jerusalem, to a special place – which he had prepared (1 Chron. 16:1).  It had not been given a special place in Jerusalem for a long time.

1 Chronicles 16

Background:
The Tent of Meeting and the Ark of the Covenant

1.	 The Tent of Meeting was a physical place where God dwelt with mankind.  God gave instructions to Moses while he was on Mt. Sinai, on how to construct these furnishings. These were earthly representations of heavenly actualities.

2.  It had four articles of furniture in it, a veil separating the Ark of the Covenant from the main room, and two pieces of furniture outside:
a.	 A table for the “Bread of the Presence”
b.	 A golden lampstand
c.	 An altar of incense
d.	 The Ark of the Covenant – the place of the dwelling place of God
e.	 Outside there were two articles: a laver basin for water so the priests could wash themselves before and after sacrifices, an altar of sacrifice 

3.  The Ark of the Covenant primarily was the chosen place for God’s Spirit to dwell here on earth (prior to His coming at Pentecost), – beneath the wings of the Cherubim around the Mercy Seat (Jesus’ blood was sprinkled on the original Mercy Seat in heaven, at His death).  The Tablets on which the 10 Commandments were written, were placed within the Ark, under the Mercy Seat, as the primary article kept inside the Ark.  At one time Aaron’s rod that budded (revealing he and Moses as God’s chosen leaders over usurpers), and the golden pot of manna (which was the food eaten by the Children of Israel in the wilderness) were also kept in the Ark (Hebrews 9:4).

4.  The Ark was placed in the Holy of Holies room, behind the veil, in the Tent of Meeting; a place where God’s Presence dwelt.

5.  As Israel became more and more carnal in their worship of God, the priesthood dissipated into perversion and God judged the priests and the nation.
6.  The ark was taken out into battle, in hopes that God’s Presence would overcome the enemy (1 Samuel 4).

7.  Instead the battle was lost the priests killed and the ark captured.

8.  God can take care of Himself…so the ark was sent back to Israel after being with the Philistines for six months.

9.  Because when it came back to Israel, the Ark was opened and men died, it was sent to the house of a priest named Abinadab for its place of general residence in Israel for many years (1 Samuel 7:2).  It was also taken back and forth to Abinadab’s home whenever King Saul required it.

10.  The Ark finally was provided a special tent by King David (most likely after the pattern of the original Tent of Meeting) and ceremonially brought with much praise and sacrifice, to its place in Jerusalem.  

11.  The Song of Thanks Giving 
1 Chronicles 16:8-36 (See the Addendum, see also Psalm 105:1-15).
David’s Song of Thanks 
Vs. 8–12 
	8 	Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name; 
make known his deeds among the peoples! 
	9 	Sing to him, sing praises to him; 
tell of all his wondrous works! 
	10 	Glory in his holy name; 
let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice! 
	11 	Seek the Lord and his strength; 
seek his presence continually! 
	12 	Remember the wondrous works that he has done, 
his miracles and the judgments he uttered….

12.  King David would provide the material for Solomon, his son, to build a Temple in which the Ark would rest for many years.

King David provides many Psalms of praise and Thanks Giving for us in the book of Psalms from which we can learn to worship and praise God from our hearts.

Conclusion

As we have looked at these four illustrations in the Scripture of Thanks Giving, may our hearts be drawn to the Lord to worship Him in Spirit and Truth, respond to Him with a true heart of gratitude, and find ourselves those who have spirits abounding in Thanksgiving!

Personal Devastation, 
Unjust Circumstances leading to Pain, 
Projected Destruction, 
Opportunities for Praise

Addendum

1. Thanks Giving in the Furnace of Great Tragedy

Job 1 
Job’s Character and Wealth 
1 There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil. 2 There were born to him seven sons and three daughters. 3 He possessed 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, and 500 female donkeys, and very many servants, so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the east. 4 His sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one on his day, and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 And when the days of the feast had run their course, Job would send and consecrate them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, “It may be that my children have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did continually. 
Satan Allowed to Test Job 
6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. 7 The Lord said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.” 8 And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?” 9 Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason? 10 Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.” 12 And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord. 
Satan Takes Job’s Property and Children 
13 Now there was a day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, 14 and there came a messenger to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, 15 and the Sabeans fell upon them and took them and struck down the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 16 While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 17 While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “The Chaldeans formed three groups and made a raid on the camels and took them and struck down the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 18 While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, 19 and behold, a great wind came across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young people, and they are dead, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 
20 Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. 21 And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” 
22 In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong. 


2. Thanks Giving in Times of Injustice and Pain

Acts 16 
Timothy Joins Paul and Silas 
16 Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek. 2 He was well spoken of by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium. 3 Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. 4 As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered to them for observance the decisions that had been reached by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem. 5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily. 
The Macedonian Call 
6 And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. 7 And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. 8 So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. 9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. 
The Conversion of Lydia 
11 So, setting sail from Troas, we made a direct voyage to Samothrace, and the following day to Neapolis, 12 and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city some days. 13 And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together. 14 One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. 15 And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us. 
Paul and Silas in Prison 
16 As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling. 17 She followed Paul and us, crying out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.” 18 And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour. 
19 But when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers. 20 And when they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, “These men are Jews, and they are disturbing our city. 21 They advocate customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to accept or practice.” 22 The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods. 23 And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely. 24 Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. 
The Philippian Jailer Converted 
25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, 26 and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were unfastened. 27 When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” 29 And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. 30 Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. 34 Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God. 
35 But when it was day, the magistrates sent the police, saying, “Let those men go.” 36 And the jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, “The magistrates have sent to let you go. Therefore come out now and go in peace.” 37 But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us publicly, uncondemned, men who are Roman citizens, and have thrown us into prison; and do they now throw us out secretly? No! Let them come themselves and take us out.” 38 The police reported these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Roman citizens. 39 So they came and apologized to them. And they took them out and asked them to leave the city. 40 So they went out of the prison and visited Lydia. And when they had seen the brothers, they encouraged them and departed. 

3. Thanks Giving when Facing Overwhelming Odds – confrontations from even those who should be considered “family”
God Rescues Lot (see Genesis 13 – the Separation of Abraham and Lot)

Genesis 19 (Background on the Moabites and Ammonites.  See Genesis 25:30 and 32:3 regarding Esau’s descendants and the Edomites.  See also Deut. 2:9; 19)

The two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them and bowed himself with his face to the earth 2 and said, “My lords, please turn aside to your servant’s house and spend the night and wash your feet. Then you may rise up early and go on your way.” They said, “No; we will spend the night in the town square.” 3 But he pressed them strongly; so they turned aside to him and entered his house. And he made them a feast and baked unleavened bread, and they ate. 
4 But before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both young and old, all the people to the last man, surrounded the house. 5 And they called to Lot, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us, that we may know them.” 6 Lot went out to the men at the entrance, shut the door after him, 7 and said, “I beg you, my brothers, do not act so wickedly. 8 Behold, I have two daughters who have not known any man. Let me bring them out to you, and do to them as you please. Only do nothing to these men, for they have come under the shelter of my roof.” 9 But they said, “Stand back!” And they said, “This fellow came to sojourn, and he has become the judge! Now we will deal worse with you than with them.” Then they pressed hard against the man Lot, and drew near to break the door down. 10 But the men reached out their hands and brought Lot into the house with them and shut the door. 11 And they struck with blindness the men who were at the entrance of the house, both small and great, so that they wore themselves out groping for the door. 
12 Then the men said to Lot, “Have you anyone else here? Sons-in-law, sons, daughters, or anyone you have in the city, bring them out of the place. 13 For we are about to destroy this place, because the outcry against its people has become great before the Lord, and the Lord has sent us to destroy it.” 14 So Lot went out and said to his sons-in-law, who were to marry his daughters, “Up! Get out of this place, for the Lord is about to destroy the city.” But he seemed to his sons-in-law to be jesting. 
15 As morning dawned, the angels urged Lot, saying, “Up! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be swept away in the punishment of the city.” 16 But he lingered. So the men seized him and his wife and his two daughters by the hand, the Lord being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city. 17 And as they brought them out, one said, “Escape for your life. Do not look back or stop anywhere in the valley. Escape to the hills, lest you be swept away.” 18 And Lot said to them, “Oh, no, my lords. 19 Behold, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have shown me great kindness in saving my life. But I cannot escape to the hills, lest the disaster overtake me and I die. 20 Behold, this city is near enough to flee to, and it is a little one. Let me escape there—is it not a little one?—and my life will be saved!” 21 He said to him, “Behold, I grant you this favor also, that I will not overthrow the city of which you have spoken. 22 Escape there quickly, for I can do nothing till you arrive there.” Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar. 
God Destroys Sodom 
23 The sun had risen on the earth when Lot came to Zoar. 24 Then the Lord rained on Sodom and Gomorrah sulfur and fire from the Lord out of heaven. 25 And he overthrew those cities, and all the valley, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground. 26 But Lot’s wife, behind him, looked back, and she became a pillar of salt. 
27 And Abraham went early in the morning to the place where he had stood before the Lord. 28 And he looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah and toward all the land of the valley, and he looked and, behold, the smoke of the land went up like the smoke of a furnace. 
29 So it was that, when God destroyed the cities of the valley, God remembered Abraham and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow when he overthrew the cities in which Lot had lived. 
Lot and His Daughters 
30 Now Lot went up out of Zoar and lived in the hills with his two daughters, for he was afraid to live in Zoar. So he lived in a cave with his two daughters. 31 And the firstborn said to the younger, “Our father is old, and there is not a man on earth to come in to us after the manner of all the earth. 32 Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve offspring from our father.” 33 So they made their father drink wine that night. And the firstborn went in and lay with her father. He did not know when she lay down or when she arose. 
34 The next day, the firstborn said to the younger, “Behold, I lay last night with my father. Let us make him drink wine tonight also. Then you go in and lie with him, that we may preserve offspring from our father.” 35 So they made their father drink wine that night also. And the younger arose and lay with him, and he did not know when she lay down or when she arose. 36 Thus both the daughters of Lot became pregnant by their father. 37 The firstborn bore a son and called his name Moab. He is the father of the Moabites to this day. 38 The younger also bore a son and called his name Ben-ammi. He is the father of the Ammonites to this day.

Thanks Giving when Facing Overwhelming Odds – confrontations from even those who should be considered “family”

The Major Nations – Family Nations from the same bloodline as Abraham… Moving against Judah to Destroy Her

2 Chronicles 20:1–30 

20 After this the Moabites and Ammonites, and with them some of the Meunites, came against Jehoshaphat for battle. 2 Some men came and told Jehoshaphat, “A great multitude is coming against you from Edom, from beyond the sea; and, behold, they are in Hazazon-tamar” (that is, Engedi). 3 Then Jehoshaphat was afraid and set his face to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. 4 And Judah assembled to seek help from the Lord; from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord. 
5 And Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord, before the new court, 6 and said, “O Lord, God of our fathers, are you not God in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. In your hand are power and might, so that none is able to withstand you. 7 Did you not, our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel, and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend? 8 And they have lived in it and have built for you in it a sanctuary for your name, saying, 9 ‘If disaster comes upon us, the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house and before you—for your name is in this house—and cry out to you in our affliction, and you will hear and save.’ 10 And now behold, the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir, whom you would not let Israel invade when they came from the land of Egypt, and whom they avoided and did not destroy— (See Deut. 2:9; 19) 11 behold, they reward us by coming to drive us out of your possession, which you have given us to inherit. 12 O our God, will you not execute judgment on them? For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” 
13 Meanwhile all Judah stood before the Lord, with their little ones, their wives, and their children. 14 And the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, in the midst of the assembly. 15 And he said, “Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: Thus says the Lord to you, ‘Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God’s. 16 Tomorrow go down against them. Behold, they will come up by the ascent of Ziz. You will find them at the end of the valley, east of the wilderness of Jeruel. 17 You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, and the Lord will be with you.” 
18 Then Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the Lord, worshiping the Lord. 19 And the Levites, of the Kohathites and the Korahites, stood up to praise the Lord, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice. 
20 And they rose early in the morning and went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. And when they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe in the Lord your God, and you will be established; believe his prophets, and you will succeed.” 21 And when he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to the Lord and praise him in holy attire, as they went before the army, and say, 
		“Give thanks to the Lord, 
for his steadfast love endures forever.” 
22 And when they began to sing and praise, the Lord set an ambush against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah, so that they were routed. 23 For the men of Ammon and Moab rose against the inhabitants of Mount Seir, devoting them to destruction, and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, they all helped to destroy one another. 
The Lord Delivers Judah 
24 When Judah came to the watchtower of the wilderness, they looked toward the horde, and behold, there were dead bodies lying on the ground; none had escaped. 25 When Jehoshaphat and his people came to take their spoil, they found among them, in great numbers, goods, clothing, and precious things, which they took for themselves until they could carry no more. They were three days in taking the spoil, it was so much. 26 On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Beracah, for there they blessed the Lord. Therefore the name of that place has been called the Valley of Beracah to this day. 27 Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, and Jehoshaphat at their head, returning to Jerusalem with joy, for the Lord had made them rejoice over their enemies. 28 They came to Jerusalem with harps and lyres and trumpets, to the house of the Lord. 29 And the fear of God came on all the kingdoms of the countries when they heard that the Lord had fought against the enemies of Israel. 30 So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet, for his God gave him rest all around. 

4. Thanks Giving – A Time to Worship and Praise our God
King David finally brings the Ark of the Covenant home to Jerusalem

1 Chronicles 16:8–36 
David’s Song of Thanks 
	8 	Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name; 
make known his deeds among the peoples! 
	9 	Sing to him, sing praises to him; 
tell of all his wondrous works! 
	10 	Glory in his holy name; 
let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice! 
	11 	Seek the Lord and his strength; 
seek his presence continually! 
	12 	Remember the wondrous works that he has done, 
his miracles and the judgments he uttered, 
	13 	O offspring of Israel his servant, 
children of Jacob, his chosen ones! 
	14 	He is the Lord our God; 
his judgments are in all the earth. 
	15 	Remember his covenant forever, 
the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations, 
	16 	the covenant that he made with Abraham, 
his sworn promise to Isaac, 
	17 	which he confirmed to Jacob as a statute, 
to Israel as an everlasting covenant, 
	18 	saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan, 
as your portion for an inheritance.” 
	19 	When you were few in number, 
of little account, and sojourners in it, 
	20 	wandering from nation to nation, 
from one kingdom to another people, 
	21 	he allowed no one to oppress them; 
he rebuked kings on their account, 
	22 	saying, “Touch not my anointed ones, 
do my prophets no harm!” 
	23 	Sing to the Lord, all the earth! 
Tell of his salvation from day to day. 
	24 	Declare his glory among the nations, 
his marvelous works among all the peoples! 
	25 	For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, 
and he is to be feared above all gods. 
	26 	For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols, 
but the Lord made the heavens. 
	27 	Splendor and majesty are before him; 
strength and joy are in his place. 
	28 	Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples, 
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength! 
	29 	Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; 
bring an offering and come before him! 
		Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness; 
	30 	tremble before him, all the earth; 
yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved. 
	31 	Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice, 
and let them say among the nations, “The Lord reigns!” 
	32 	Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; 
let the field exult, and everything in it! 
	33 	Then shall the trees of the forest sing for joy 
before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth. 
	34 	Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; 
for his steadfast love endures forever! 
35 Say also: 
		“Save us, O God of our salvation, 
and gather and deliver us from among the nations, 
		that we may give thanks to your holy name 
and glory in your praise. 
	36 	Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, 
from everlasting to everlasting!” 
Then all the people said, “Amen!” and praised the Lord. 

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