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November 24, 2005
Thanksgiving
Deuteronomy 8:10-18
Pastor Ben Berger

Remember the LORD

Aren't the holidays a perfect time to remember? We get together with family and friends to remember the last time we saw each other. We remember and discuss all the things that have happened since. We take special time to remember those who cannot or are no longer with us. Thanksgiving is an especially good time to remember - especially to remember what the LORD has done for us. But this thanksgiving we want to remember not only what the LORD has done for us in the past, but also what the LORD is doing for us today and promises to do for us in the future. Join me then as we Remember the LORD. Moses helps us remember that 1) the LORD brought us here, 2) the LORD provides for us, and 3) the LORD will keep his promise.

Throughout the book of Deuteronomy and especially in our text Moses encouraged Israel to remember that the LORD brought them to the Promised Land. Over 700 years earlier the LORD appeared to Abraham, told him to move to the land of Canaan, and promised that land to his descendants. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob raised their families in the Promised Land for 200 years. When famine devastated the land, the family moved to Egypt where once slave, now leader Joseph could provide for them. The family of Israel lived in Egypt for 430 years, most of the time as slaves. When Moses finally came to deliver them from Egypt to the Promised Land, they still had to wait forty more years. Because of their sin the LORD made them wander in the desert, a land even worse than Egypt.

The time had finally come to enter the Promised Land. Moses wanted the people to look back and remember the LORD. Through the entire 700 years the LORD was with them and he now brought them to this land. The Promised Land was a good land. The verses just before our text describe the land as a land with streams and pools of water, with springs flowing in the valleys and hills; a land with wheat and barley, vines and fig trees, pomegranates, olive oil and honey; a land where bread will not be scarce and you will lack nothing; a land where the rocks are iron and you can dig copper out of the hills (vv.7-9). Finally the family of Israel had reached the Promised Land. Moses wanted them to remember that the LORD brought them there and then praise him.

The LORD has also brought us to our land. As we look back over the years of our lives we can remember the LORD and see how he has brought us to this place. It's no accident that we live in America. The LORD has blessed us with a land as rich as Canaan. Our country provides the same water, wheat, produce and ore; in America we lack nothing. We even have freedom to hear God's word, worship his name and spread his good news as much as we want. We certainly remember the men and women who fought for our freedom and our country. At the same time we remember the LORD who ultimately brought us here.

We could also remember the LORD for bringing us to our families. As we gather with grandparents and grandchildren, moms and dads, brothers and sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins and even in-laws, we know the LORD brought us to them. He also brought most of us to believing family - parents who brought us to the baptismal font, sacrificed for Christian education and encouraged us all along the way. He has brought all of us into his family. All around us this moment are brothers and sisters in the faith who love and care for us. The LORD even brought us here to remember him again tonight.

Moses tells us that we can remember the LORD by praising him. He actually said to bless the LORD your God. We usually think of God blessing us. But, when we remember all he has done for us and give him the credit, we bless him. Why not use this prayer at your Thanksgiving meal: "LORD, remembering all the blessings you have given to us, we thank you and bless your holy name. Amen."

We remember the LORD not only because he has brought us to this place, but also because even today he provides for us.

To help Israel remember that he provides, the LORD tested them. The LORD tested Israel as they wandered in the desert for forty years on their way to the Promised Land. During that time of need they wore the same clothes and shoes every day, ate the same food and even lived in tents. The LORD wanted to see if the people would cling to his promises even and especially in time of need. He knew that if they abandoned him in a time of need, they would surely abandon him in a time of plenty. Israel had their opportunity to cling to the LORD and his promises by obeying his commands. They often failed constantly complaining that the LORD had forgotten them when really they had forgotten the LORD. They rebelled and suffered until they repented. They had to realize the LORD provided for them through faith and obedience.

The LORD tests us today as well. Isn't our time on this earth a time of need, much like wandering in the desert for forty years? Because of our sin life on this earth stinks. It's very difficult with many problems. Every day we worry about having enough money or toys. We constantly fight what others think say or do to us. We battle illness, disease and death. We spend much more time in worry, battle or sadness than we do in joy or happiness.

How do we respond to the problems of our lives? Do we complain like Israel? Do we claim that the LORD has forgotten and abandoned us? We often do. Instead, can we use these times to cling to the LORD? To remember that he brought us here and that he provides for us? We can.

We have to admit that our time on earth is also a time of plenty. Doesn't it sound like Moses is perfectly describing us in verses 12-13? When you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied. That's us; everything we have is multiplied. We live surrounded in wealth. The LORD provides all that we need and so much more.

How do we respond to such riches? The LORD is worried that we'll forget him. He's worried that when things are going well, we won't need him. He's worried that we'll do what we want and forget to obey his commands. Remember that Israel had to learn that the LORD provided for them through faith and obedience.

We will want to remember the LORD with faith and obedience. In times of need we will turn to the LORD trusting that he has remembered us. In times of plenty we will thank the LORD for his blessings. Because he provides for us we will then want to please him by obeying his commands. The great part is that when we obey the LORD, he blesses us even more.

We've remembered that the LORD brought us here and that he provides for us now; we also want to remember that the LORD will keep his promise regarding our future. The LORD's promise is the most important part of his Word for us today.

The LORD made a promise to Israel. In fact, he made many promises. He promised Abraham that his family would grow and prosper, that they would inherit the Promised Land, and that they would be a great nation. Most importantly, however, the LORD promised a Savior through them. Moses knew that as soon as Israel reached the Promised Land, they would be tempted to forget the LORD and take credit themselves. He said to them, You may say to yourself, "My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me" (17).

Instead Moses begged the people of Israel to remember the LORD and his promise. The LORD had kept his promise to bring the people to the Promised Land and to provide for them and increase their blessings only to help them remember the promise of the Savior. The LORD hoped that when the people looked back or looked around them, they would see him. He hoped they would see the promise of his Savior.

The same promise made to Abraham and Israel by the LORD has been kept for us. When we look back or around at all we are and have, we may be tempted to credit ourselves. It would be so easy for us to think that we can do anything if we just set our mind to it. We might even think that we could earn salvation on our own. The LORD wants us to remember his promise. He wants every blessing around us to point back to that most important promise of a Savior.

The LORD fulfilled his promise of a Savior when he sent Jesus to us. Next week we'll begin looking forward to Jesus' birth. We'll learn again that we don't have to rely on ourselves or our obedience to God's commands because we can rely on Jesus instead. Throughout his life on earth he always obeyed God's commands; he never once complained. He remembered his Father's will and desire to give us eternal life. Before long we'll have opportunity to remember Jesus' suffering and death. We'll taste and see God's promise to forgive our sins. And when we see Jesus rise from the grave, we'll know that the promise has been kept.

Remember the LORD and his promise fulfilled in Christ gives us reason to trust in him. We put our future in his hands. We trust in him for eternal salvation and for every blessing until then. Looking back we remember how the LORD brought us here and bless his name. We remember that the LORD provides for us through faith and obedience. We remember that he kept his promise in Jesus. Isn't Thanksgiving a good time to remember the LORD?