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E-Mail Bag!
"A Thanksgiving Offering"
Q.
Sam, as I study the Bible I see a “Thanksgiving offering”. What
was it's spiritual relevance? *Jack
A.
Jack, the relevance of the ‘thanksgiving offering’ is threefold:
First, giving thanks expresses our relationship with God. The thanksgiving
offering was simply called ‘Todah’, (Hebrew for ‘thanks’), and was
actually part of the peace offerings. “If (a person) offers (the peace
offerings)..., then along with the sacrifice of thanksgiving he shall
offer...his peace offerings for thanksgiving” (Lev. 7:12,15). There can
be true thanksgiving to God only if there is first true peace with God.
If anyone lacks a thankful heart before God then perhaps they should see
if they have a genuine peace with God. How do we have peace with God?
Romans 5:1 says “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have
peace with God through our Lord Messiah Yeshua.” We have peace with God
because He is our sin offering, in that, “He (God) made Him who knew no
sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of
God in Him” (2 Cor. 5:21). Paul teaches that Yeshua was our sin
offering. This is why Yeshua is also our “peace offering” in Ephesians
2:14, “For He Himself is our peace”, who made both groups, Jews and
Gentiles, one family in God by partaking together in Messiah our Peace
offering.
Secondly, thanksgiving expresses our reliance upon God. “Now the
sacrifice of his thanksgiving peace offerings, shall be eaten on the day
of his offering; he shall not leave any of it over until morning” (Lev.
7:15). As with the lamb for salvation (Exodus 12:10) and the manna for
growth (Ex. 16:19), there was an urgency for thanksgiving of testimony. It
couldn't be left over until morning: the giving of thanks can't wait. So
often we want to wait to see how things turn out before we give thanks to
God. But faith trusts & testifies in the midst of all the problems...
“We know, all things work together for good!” This is why the New
Covenant teaches “in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for
you in Messiah Yeshua” (1 Thes. 5:18). Don't wait to see how it turns
out, give thanks to God now! Giving thanks is a sacrifice of faith in
God's sovereign will. In fact, those who left over the "Todah"
for a later time committed sin and were not accepted before God! (Lev.
7:18) Let's respond to God today while it is today.
Finally, thanksgiving expresses our resolve before God. “And when you
offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving to the LORD, offer it of your own free
will” (Lev. 22:29). Personal faith in God means a sincere trust in God-
of your own free will. Sometimes our circumstances are so difficult that
giving thanks to God is truly a free will sacrifice of faith, regardless
of ‘feelings’. This is exactly the same faith demonstrated by King
David and the prophets, and by such faith God is truly pleased!
I hopes this helps. Have a Happy and Holy Thanksgiving! Sam Y
*Names are changed to protect the privacy of individuals.
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