Remembering God’s Deliverance and Giving Thanks

Deuteronomy presents some powerful verses emphasizing the importance of remembering history. Most importantly, the calling to remember was never to create a sense of pride but to inspire gratitude for God’s mercy and salvation.

In the text below, the covenant people of Israel were instructed to bring their first fruits to the Lord as an expression of their thanksgiving. Again, this act was not about celebrating any past greatness on their part but acknowledging their humble beginnings and God’s grace.

“And it shall be, when thou art come in unto the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee for an inheritance, and possessest it, and dwellest therein;
2 That thou shalt take of the first of all the fruit of the earth, which thou shalt bring of thy land that the Lord thy God giveth thee, and shalt put it in a basket, and shalt go unto the place which the Lord thy God shall choose to place his name there.
3 And thou shalt go unto the priest that shall be in those days, and say unto him, I profess this day unto the Lord thy God, that I am come unto the country which the Lords ware unto our fathers for to give us.
4 And the priest shall take the basket out of thine hand, and set it down before the altar of the Lord thy God.
5 And thou shalt speak and say before the Lord thy God, A Syrian ready to perish was my father, and he went down into Egypt, and sojourned there with a few, and became there a nation, great, mighty, and populous:
6 And the Egyptians evil entreated us, and afflicted us, and laid upon us hard bondage:
7 And when we cried unto the Lord God of our fathers, the Lord heard our voice, and looked on our affliction, and our labour, and our oppression:
8 And the Lord brought us forth out of Egypt with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with great terribleness, and with signs, and with wonders:
9 And he hath brought us into this place, and hath given us this land, even a land that floweth with milk and honey.
10 And now, behold, I have brought the first fruits of the land, which thou, O Lord, hast given me. And thou shalt set it before the Lord thy God, and worship before the Lord thy God:
11 And thou shalt rejoice in every good thing which the Lord thy God hath given unto thee, and unto thine house, thou, and the Levite, and the stranger that is among you.”
Deuteronomy 26:1-11

A Humble History, Not Pride in the Past

When Israel brought their first fruits, they were required to recite a confession. This statement didn’t highlight their glory but their lowly origins: “A wandering Aramean was my father.” This referred to Jacob, who started as a nomadic, near-destitute fellow but, through God’s mercy, became “Israel,” a prince in God’s eyes. His transformation from a lost wanderer to a royal patriarch illustrates the power of God’s grace. Jacob’s journey, then, is a vivid reminder that God alone gives people their identity and their future.

The Hebrew word for “perish” used in this context describes an animal straying or being lost. Like a lost sheep, Jacob was ready to perish, yet God saved him and made him the father of a great nation. This history taught Israel… and us… that true thanksgiving stems from the realization that everything we are and have is a gift from God.

Gratitude Rooted in God’s Mercy

Paul echoes this truth in 1 Corinthians 4:7: “For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? Now, if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?”

Paul reminds us that our talents, abilities, and even our very existence are not our own doing but God’s generous gift. True thanksgiving requires humility, acknowledging that all we have comes from Him. Further, believers are to be thoughtful or “intelligently grateful” in their thanksgiving.

This means our gratitude should not be mindless or mechanical, but it requires a true understanding of God’s mercy and grace. This gratitude must manifest itself not just in words but also in action… through offerings, like the first fruits mentioned.

A Liturgy of Gratitude and Freedom

The liturgy described in Deuteronomy highlights God’s gift of land as an expression of freedom. Freedom here is spiritual but also land-based, rooted in God’s covenant promises. When God delivered Israel from slavery, He didn’t leave them as wanderers… He gave them a land where they could live as free people. This inheritance was given to a new generation who were spiritually prepared to receive it.

Biblical freedom, however, is not without order and structure. It is covenantal and governed by faith. So, to truly enjoy freedom, God’s people must remember His covenantal grace and His past acts of deliverance. This connection between history and faith underscores that worship requires a sense of memory and gratitude. To forget God’s law and grace is to lose the very foundation of freedom itself.

Rejoicing in God’s Gifts

Deuteronomy 26:11 commands rejoicing: “And thou shalt rejoice in every good thing which the Lord thy God hath given unto thee, and unto thine house, thou, and the Levite, and the stranger that is among you.”

Enjoyment is not only permitted but also commanded. This is most remarkable. God calls His people to delight in the material blessings He provides. This includes sharing joy with others, such as the Levites and strangers among them. The first Thanksgiving in America mirrored this principle. Pilgrims included the Native Americans in their celebrations, recognizing them as “the strangers” referenced in the law.

Thanksgiving as a Commanded Joy

Thanksgiving, biblically, is about recognizing God’s goodness and provision in all aspects of life. It isn’t just spiritual reflection but involves rejoicing in tangible blessings as well. This perspective counters the idea that faith is opposed to physical things and material enjoyment. On the contrary, God encourages His people to take pleasure in the good things He gives… food, land, family, and community… as long as this enjoyment is rooted in gratitude to Him.

Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 15:20 remind us of the ultimate reason for thanksgiving:

“But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept.”

Christ Himself is the ultimate fulfillment of the first fruits offering, representing the greatest gift and reason for joy. As we give thanks, we acknowledge our material blessings and the eternal salvation made possible through Christ’s sacrifice and resurrection.

Gratitude as a Way of Life

The message of Deuteronomy and the broader biblical narrative is very clear: Thanksgiving is not a mere holiday or ritual but a way of life. It calls us to remember God’s deliverance, acknowledge His sovereignty, and rejoice in His blessings.

This gratitude must be expressed both in words and actions… through offerings, worship, and kindness to others. True thanksgiving reflects a heart humbled by grace and filled with joy in the Lord.

The First Fruits: A Symbol of Resurrection and Promise

Back to the previous verse: “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept.” This verse reminds us that Christ’s resurrection is the beginning of the harvest of the new creation. As followers of Christ, we are called to be part of this ongoing harvest, expanding the kingdom of God through our service to the King.

Thanksgiving and the Acknowledgment of God’s Providence

In the liturgy of thanksgiving, believers brought gifts with the acknowledgment that these were placed in their hands by the providence of God. This offering was more than symbolic; it was a declaration of gratitude for God’s guidance and blessings.

Reflecting on the past, they were to remember how God’s hand had prospered them, even turning the worst circumstances into good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.

The first fruits were also a tangible confession that God had fulfilled His promise. They were proof of possession of the land given by God. This act of thanksgiving grounded faith in the physical reality of God’s blessings, rejecting a purely Platonic or spiritualized view of faith.

Grounded in Earth Yet Destined for Glory

We are not created as angels but as earthly creatures who eat, sleep, and live in the physical world. Faith must reflect this reality. Bringing first fruits acknowledges our earthly existence while pointing to the hope of the new creation, where we will be transformed through the resurrection into eternal beings.

A purely spiritualized religion has little in common with what’s in the Bible. It ignores the importance of history, memory, and community. Instead, it becomes self-centered, just like pagan religions that treat worship as a kind of “transactional” insurance policy: What’s in it for me? … becomes the operative motif. Such religion lacks the covenantal depth of biblical faith, which emphasizes God’s work in history and the collective calling of His people.

The Centrality of History in Biblical Faith

We find then that Biblical faith is deeply historical. The Bible… from the Law, the History books, and the Prophets to the Gospels, Acts, the Epistles, and Revelation… proclaims the significance of God’s work throughout history. Unlike pagan, ahistorical, and self-focused religions, biblical worship ties liturgy and faith to God’s acts in time.

History is not an optional backdrop but an essential framework through which God’s kingdom unfolds. Even today, secular humanism falters because it has lost its grasp on history. It sees humanity’s future as directionless, reducing it to the lifeless monotony of a beehive or anthill.

Our failure to honor history has left the world in the hands of those who have abandoned any meaningful narrative of purpose. In contrast, Christians are called to a higher mission.

The Responsibility of Christians in History

As Christians, we bear the responsibility to reclaim history for Christ. This task involves bringing all things into subjection to Him, fulfilling the promise given in Scripture. When God commissioned Joshua—whose name is the Old Testament form of Jesus… He promised, “Where soever thy foot shall trod, that land I will give thee.” Jesus echoed this call in His Great Commission: “Go ye therefore unto all nations, discipling them, teaching them all things that I have commanded you.”

This charge is not a retreat from history but a hardy, bold movement within it. The Bible provides a roadmap for a redemptive conquest of history, not through human power but through the authority of Christ. Christians are to engage the world, remember God’s covenant, and proclaim His kingdom in every aspect of life.

Concluding Call to Action

The Old Testament’s “first fruits” concept reminds us that God’s promises are tangible, and His plans are unfolding in history. Our role is to embrace this reality, reject self-centered spiritualism, and participate in God’s redemptive work in the world here and now. In doing so, we carry forward the mission of Christ, ensuring that His kingdom advances and history itself becomes a testimony to His glory.

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