Thanksgiving in the Bible: Giving Thanks in the Wilderness
There are times when the journey is already behind us, yet our destination is still nowhere in sight. We left Egypt, but we are still in the wilderness, having brought our slave mentality with us. This is where our faith is tested. What will we hold on to when life is uncertain, and what will come out of our mouths when our hearts are filled with worry?
In Exodus 16, we encounter the Israelites hungry and complaining. Only a short time earlier, they had witnessed God’s power at the Red Sea. Now, the hardships of the journey stir within them a longing for Egypt. They remember the food, while the pain of slavery fades into the background. Fear of tomorrow makes it difficult to remember the faithfulness of the One who brought them into freedom. It is easy to judge them, but their story holds up a mirror to us as well. We, too, can experience the Lord’s grace and then, in a time of need or opposition, ask: Where is He now? Will He provide for us on this journey too?
There in the wilderness, the Lord gives manna. He teaches His people to trust Him one day at a time. They do not receive everything they will need for the entire journey in advance; they learn to depend on His faithfulness each morning.
Thanksgiving in the Bible teaches us about trusting God, giving thanks in difficult times, and finding His faithfulness in the wilderness.
The lips we have been given can complain, wound, and discourage, or they can praise, glorify, give thanks, and encourage. Hebrews 13:15 calls us to offer God a sacrifice of praise, the fruit of lips that acknowledge His name. The very expression “a sacrifice of praise” reminds us that thanksgiving sometimes comes at a cost. It rises from a weary heart, from a prayer that has not yet been answered, from a path we do not understand. This does not mean we cannot weep or bring our questions before the Lord. We can bring Him our pain honestly and, in the same breath, thank Him for hearing us. We can say, “Lord, this is hard, and I need Your help. Thank You for never leaving me.” Thanksgiving makes room in our hearts to remember His grace. It reminds us that the hardship we see is not the whole story.
In John 6, after many had turned away from Yeshua, He asked the Twelve whether they also wanted to leave. Simon Peter answered,
“Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” John 6:68.
This is an answer of faith in the midst of difficulty. Peter does not offer a solution to every question; he declares in whom he has found life. There are moments in our journey, too, when we do not understand the way ahead. We seek relief, answers, and security. And through it all, we return to Yeshua, because He has the words of eternal life. Our security is rooted in the Lord, in His presence and His faithfulness.
Sukkot reminds us that the Israelites lived in temporary shelters when God brought them out of Egypt (Leviticus 23:42–43). We leave our permanent homes and enter a temporary dwelling, remembering how deeply our lives depend on God’s grace. Even today, we can experience seasons that feel like a wilderness: uncertainty, loneliness, loss, and opposition. The sukkah invites us to remember that the Lord who led His people through the wilderness is worthy of our trust today.
As a Messianic Jewish community, we may encounter opposition, misunderstanding, and even rejection because of our faith in Yeshua. In these circumstances, we must guard our hearts so that pain does not turn into bitterness and our words do not become filled with contempt for others. We are called to bear witness to our faith with humility, respond with love, and bless even when it is difficult. This journey is one we share, as written in Galatians 6:2, we are called to “Bear one another’s burdens". Sometimes a brother or sister struggles to find words of thanksgiving. Then our role is to draw near, listen, pray, and offer practical help. In humility, we acknowledge that we, too, need grace. In love, we make room for another person’s weakness.
Our call is to give thanks in every circumstance (1 Thessalonians 5:18) This call invites us to recognize the Lord’s grace even in suffering, His presence, the hope of salvation, our daily bread, and our brothers and sisters which He has placed beside us.
This Sukkot, let us ask that our lips become instruments of praise and peace. May we remember the Lord’s kindness, bear one another’s burdens, and continue to follow Yeshua in faith. Even in the wilderness, there is bread from heaven. Even on the difficult road, there is room for thanksgiving. And with every step, the Lord teaches us to trust Him.
