By Pastor David Holland
“I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken,
Nor his descendants begging bread. He is ever merciful, and lends;
And his descendants are blessed.” (Psalm 37:25-26, NKJV)
There I stood in Capernaum, where Jesus once provided bread for the multitudes and healed the sick. The weather was perfect. The full moon lit up the night and three hours of unadulterated worship rocked the hillsides.
Praising God with gusto came easily with the great throng of pilgrims gathered on the north shore of the Sea of Galilee. Two thousand Christians assembled from all over the world in ancient Capernaum to kick off the Feast of Tabernacles and walk in the footsteps of Christ. Faith was on full display.
Similar to our Thanksgiving celebration, the Feast of Tabernacles is an annual holiday in Israel that commemorates the Israelites’ 40-year journey out of Egypt. God provided manna to eat and water for them in the wilderness. They slept in tents, called “succots,” or temporary dwellings. This holiday is a time of joy for the Jews and the Christians who visit. Jesus wants to tabernacle among us today if we invite him.
While in Nazareth, the minimalism of Christ’s life struck me in Joseph’s workshop, literally a cave. Questions probed my mind. Do we adorn our faith with so much pomp and ceremony that we miss the power of his love and the simplicity of His teachings?
Shifting to southern Israel, we explored Hebron, where Abraham received the promise that God would bless his family. Recent excavations reveal stone pathways traveled by Abraham 4,000 years ago. While offering his son Isaac as a sacrifice, God interrupted him with a ram caught in a thicket and taught Abraham that God will provide Himself a sacrifice. I thanked God for sending Christ as our eternal sacrifice.
Landing more than 6,000 miles to the west of Israel, we arrived in South Carolina. Our grandson, Josiah, was about to graduate from Marine boot camp on Parris Island. The family gathered to celebrate his achievement. Fourteen of us stood at rapt attention among thousands of family members of the 374 graduating Marines. The Marine Corps band played in the shadow of the statue commemorating the battle of Iwo Jima.
My family cheered them on, along with hundreds of other families representing every walk of life in our pluralistic culture, every one of them proud of their Marine and their country. My daughter and the mother of our Marine is fiercely loyal and unyielding as iron. She whooped and hollered, shouting above the din, “I love you Josiah!”
Waves of pride and patriotism washed over me as I watched my grandson march in strict formation with his company. The innocent baby-faced toddler I once knew stood as a strong, disciplined United States Marine willing to lay down his life for his faith, family and country. That’s when stark, raving fear ruined the parade.
Will the Corps send my grandson into battle in some far-off desert or jungle? Will an enemy’s weapon tear through his flesh and bone? Will he come home in a body bag? These thoughts tormented me while the band played on.
Only God knows these answers.
Moses showed us that even in the wilderness, God is good and always provides. I learned from Father Abraham to place my family in God’s hands because he is so faithful. I learned from my savior Jesus that God is truly with us through the battles of life. Like King David of old, I have learned to be thankful for my God, my family, and my country.
Happy Thanksgiving.
Dave Holland pastored churches for thirty-eight years before retiring in Destin, Florida. His book, “Christmas Jesus” is now available at Amazon.com for $5. He also released his new devotional-Bible study based on the Gospel of Luke titled “Extraordinary Jesus: Ignite Your Season of Miracles.” You can get a copy of his books from his website, DaveHolland.org, or at Amazon.com. Pastor Dave is available to preach and teach in churches and conferences. Contact him at DavidvHolland54@gmail.com.
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