The Passover Thanksgiving Feast

The night of Passover. A night that would finally convince Pharaoh to let God’s people go. A night that every home that didn’t have the blood of the lamb around the doorway would experience death. But what was the significance of that event? It’s easy to think of it simply as the final plague to prove
God was more powerful than Pharaoh. However, the more you read the bible the more you’ll probably notice how many times that story is retold with the intention of reminding the Israelites what God is looking for.

The Passover was to be celebrated every year to serve as a reminder of the blessing of obedience to God – death passes over your house. Unfortunately, the Israelites forgot the lesson from that dinner of thanksgiving instituted by God.

Approximately 600 years had passed from the time of the Judges to Josiah king of Judah, and the Passover apparently hadn’t been practiced at all, or at least not properly during that time.

2 Kings 23:21-22, “Then the king [Josiah] commanded all the people saying, 'Celebrate the Passover to the Lord your God as it is written in this book of the covenant.' Surely such a Passover had not been celebrated from the days of the judges who judged Israel, nor in all the days of the kings of Israel and of the kings of Judah.”

Basically, they forgot what God was trying to tell them through that Thanksgiving feast. Romans 15:4, “For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” True for us. True for them.

But the Passover was a symbolic feast representative of God’s plan for deliverance of His people – those who will trust Him. The unblemished lamb was intended to be a representative “scapegoat” for our sins. Although, as Hebrews 10:4 says, “it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.” But there would be a lamb that was capable of take away sins… “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29).

Jesus, the perfect lamb, was sacrificed for our sins. The night that took place, Jesus explained it (in part) to His disciples as they sat around the table at the Passover feast in the upper room. In John 13 Jesus modeled for them the example they should be to the world, an act that would be what signifies to the world who they belong to.

Hopefully, we can see the connections between all the events that surrounded that scary and amazing time of the exodus from Egypt, AND our exodus from a sinful life into a “Promised Land” kind of life. This Thanksgiving, we’re privileged to reflect on some of our nation's own events that help to remind us of important moral attributes that speak volumes to a world of greed and selfishness. Those moral attributes are “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, self-control…” (Galatians 5:22-23). Share these with those in your life!

Generosity

What’s it mean to be generous? It’s been described as the virtue of being liberal in giving, the act of being plentiful. It makes sense that when you have all you need then that is the time to be most generous, however, mankind has proven that that isn’t always the case. In fact, sometimes the more you get, the greedier you get.

Paul warned in 1 Timothy 6:8-10, “And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” Perhaps this was the Rich Young Ruler’s problem in Luke 18:18-30.

But it’s not just a problem of the ultra-wealthy, anyone can become stingy with their “stuff” and become the opposite of a blessing to others. Ultimately, God has set the standard of generosity in how He’s provided all that He has to us from creation to our personal blessings; and what He wants from us is to keep the ball rolling with kindness.

Generosity is easily talked about, especially during the holiday season, but unfortunately, it may take more effort than talking about it. Greed and Generosity are both reactions to the blessings we have (or want). We must resist the temptation to let self drive our reaction to our blessings.

The beauty of God’s design is that when we are givers, or generous, we truly are blessed by deeper friendships, genuine relationships with all kinds of people. Jesus said in Acts 20:35, “it is more blessed to give than to receive.” For those who practice giving, they know how true that really is.

This year, see how you can stretch your giving to those in need. That’s not always a financial need, but a need of friendships, encouragement, help with something non-monetary, just to name a few. Jesus also said in John 13:35, “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

True Friends

Years ago, a friend and I stopped to get some gas at a station. The clerk was a little rude to my friend as he walked out, and once we were outside, he started complaining. At some point, I stopped him and asked him if he was a Christian, to which he responded, "Yes!" So I said, “Act like one.” I didn’t mean anything rude by it, and I really didn’t even think much about that conversation. However, throughout the years, he’s reminded me how much that was what he needed to hear.

I’ve thought about how many times I’ve had to be on the receiving end of that conversation—sometimes it’s me telling me to “act like a Christian!” It reminds me of Proverbs 27:6, “Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.” Good friends are hard to come by.
Good friends see your situation and care enough to do something about it (James 5:19-20; Galatians 6:1). Whether it’s help with moving boxes to mending a relationship—they’re there. A good friend is willing to make a commitment to you, even before you are sometimes. Thank God for friends who intervene and help you find a path that improves your life.

For that reason, good friends can be hard to come by. In an age when people are hypersensitive and easily offended, it seems almost taboo to correct anyone or highlight any area of their life they should improve on even if it's true!

In Scriptures, we read of many people who intervened for others to help protect against their own destructive lifestyle. Moses did it for the Israelites; nearly all the prophets did it for them as well, Jesus did it for all mankind, and many letters were written to people to remind them of how they were to conduct themselves.

Consider the role Ananias played in Saul becoming a faithful follower of God (Acts 9). Saul had served God before his trip to Damascus (Acts 23:1), but with the help of unexpected friends, he now served God the right way. It took Ananias obeying the words of God, just like it took Saul listening to the counsel of a stranger sent from God.

God’s Word is in fact like a faithful friend. 2 Timothy 3:16, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

Take time to consider the role your friends have had in your life as well as recognizing how you can be an influence for good in the lives of your friends. Then, thank God for them! Perhaps like Ananias, you’ll find out there are friendships waiting to be made by simply doing or saying what God would have you do for them.

Faithful Witness

How did the prophets of the Old Testament prepare for their part in sharing the words of God with rebellious Israel? In nearly all cases, the prophets didn’t ask for the job or want the task they were assigned to do. But they were obedient to God – so they went.

Perhaps similar to how a witness to a crime didn’t ask for that position--they may not want to bear witness to what they know about something in court, and it probably isn’t comfortable to know that their words could be what was needed to convict someone. Yet, as a good citizen, when the duty is theirs, they do their part to contribute to justice.

God’s messengers have a difficult task: confront, convict, correct the actions of God’s children for the purpose of change, or repentance. It’s difficult because we realize how easy it can be to get caught up in sin, to be lured into the snare of Satan. As Paul reminded Timothy that his words and his involvement in the lives of those in Ephesus (and beyond) might help them “come to their senses and escape from the devil’s trap. For they have been held captive by him to do whatever he wants.” (2 Timothy 2:26)

Therefore, the witness has an agenda to wake up the people caught in darkness, trapped in sin, blinded by Satan. Paul said in 2 Corinthians 4:3- 4, “if our Good News is hidden, it's hidden to those who are spiritually sick and dying. In their case, the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” 

Jesus told the Pharisees in Matthew 9:12-13, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”

Every word spoken by God (via prophet or priest) was intended to help a person or a nation come to repentance. The words the prophets spoke served as a witness to God’s laws; those laws revealed how much God was protecting His people from unnecessary harm and headache. For the most part, God’s commands were actually quite simple to understand, but more difficult to consistently do.

As we read the ancient reminders of God’s provisions and His protections, we also see how He openly expressed the consequences of neglecting to trust and obey His words. It doesn’t take much to see how His instructions (like the 10 Commandments) actually benefit our life and the lives of people all around us. The question is will we heed His warnings and accept the instructions of God’s witnesses who have come so that we can see how much we need God to be our director and captain?

YULE TIDINGS ON SALE NOW!

Yule Tidings, the latest anthology from the writing group Prosateurs, is on sale now. The holiday-themed anthology celebrates Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s with works of fiction and nonfiction.

“Besides making the perfect Christmas gift, Yule Tidings is great for planning your parties and get-togethers, too,” said Kathy Akins, Prosateurs vice president. “We have articles on easy party preparations and, of course, delicious recipes. And the stories, memoirs, essays, and poems will get you into the holiday spirit. It’s the perfect book to curl up with.”

Yule Tidings features works from these authors:

Kathy Akins has won several awards with her poetry, devotionals, and short fiction. Her short stories and poetry have been published in Prosateurs: Tales & Truth, Blackbirds Third Flight, Creations 2015, and Creations 2014. She is a member of Oklahoma Writers Federation, Inc., Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, and American Christian Fiction Writers. Visit her website at kathyakins.blogspot.com.

Debbie Anderson wrote the suspense novel Friend or Foe in 2018. Its sequel, Predators Among Us, will be published in early 2020. She writes short stories, memoirs, novels, children’s stories, and how-to books. She has been published in Prosateurs: Tales & Truth, Creations 2018, and Creations 2017.

Stephen B. Bagley's latest book is Floozy Comes Back, a collection of humorous essays. He co-wrote Undying, a book of dark poetry. His other books include: Murder by Dewey Decimal, Murder by the Acre, Tales from Bethlehem, Floozy and Other Stories, and Endless. His plays include: Murder at the Witch’s Cottage, Two Writers in the Hands of an Angry God, There’s a Body in the Closet, and Hogwild. His poetry, articles, short stories, and essays have appeared in Prosateurs: Tales & Truth, Writer’s Digest, Blackbirds First Flight, Blackbirds Second Flight, Blackbirds Third Flight, ByLine Magazine, Nautilus Magazine, Pontotoc County Chronicles, Tulsa World’s OKMagazine, Free Star, Dark Prairies & Deep Rivers, the Creations anthologies 2012-2015, and other publications. He is a member of Oklahoma Writers Federation, Inc. Visit his website at StephenBBagley.blogspot.com.

Wendy Blanton wrote Dawn Before the Dark, the first book in a fantasy trilogy, which was published by the Christian fantasy publisher Bear Publications in the fall of 2019. She also co-wrote three fantasy novels, The Dragon’s Lady, Rogue Pawn, and Sword and Scabbard, under the name Elizabeth Joy. Her short stories, articles, and recipes have appeared in Prosateurs: Tales & Truth, Blackbirds First Flight, Blackbirds Second Flight, and Blackbirds Third Flight. She is a member of Realm Makers and Oklahoma Writers Federation, Inc. Visit her website at wendyblanton.com.

Debra E. Chandler’s debut novel, Bone Sliver, was published in 2015, and the sequel, Nova Wave, in 2018. Weathered, a collection of her short works and poems, was also released in 2018. Her short stories, poems, photographs, and articles were also published in Prosateurs: Tales & Truth, Blackbirds Third Flight, The Green Country Guardian, The Sapulpa Herald, and Sapulpa News and Views. She is a member of Oklahoma Writers Federation, Inc. and Oklahoma Bloggers and Influencers. Visit her website at dechandlerwrites.com.

Barbara Shepherd is the 2019 Voice of the Fair Poet, the Poetry Society of Oklahoma’s 2019 Poet Laureate, and recipient of more than 350 writing awards in local, regional, national, and international contests. Her books include: The Potbelly Pig Promise, River Bend, Vittles and Vignettes, and Patchwork Skin. Her writing has also appeared in: State Cops Cooking in the Heartland - More Than We Can Say Grace Over, Candle Flames: PSO’s 70th Anniversary Anthology, Oklahoma Centennial Heritage Collection, Harp Strings, A Centennial Celebration of Oklahoma Stories, travelin’ Music, Elegant Rage, Poetry Is For Everyone, Imagination Turned Loose, Beads On a String–Peace, Joy, and Love, From the Heart of Galaxy, Ain't Gonna Be Treated This Way, and other publications. Visit her website at barbarashepherd.com.

Joanne Verbridge was born in Oakland, California, spending her early life experiences in Northern California. Family brought her to Oklahoma where she enjoys writing memoirs and crafting. She works to inspire her young nieces to take an interest in storytelling and writing. Her memoirs, short stories, and articles have been published in newspapers and Prosateurs: Tales & Truth, Creations 2015, Creations 2014, Creations 2013, and Creations 2012.

Yule Tidings is now available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, BooksAMillion, Lulu, and other online retailers, and from the Prosateurs members while supplies last. For more information, including book signing dates and locations, visit Prosateurs.blogspot.com.