Thanksgiving and Worship: Then the LORD appeared to Abram

and said, “To your descendants I will give this land.” And there he built an altar to the LORD (Genesis 12:7). Abram had left Haran as the LORD had spoken to him, and Lot went with him. They passed though  Canaan and came to Shechem. He then moved on and pitched his tent between Bethel and Ai,  and built another alar there.  And there Abram called on the name of the LORD (Verses 4 - 8). We are not told the nature of the Lord's appearance, be it a dream or vision or whatever, but He speaks to him of his descendent inheriting the land, not Abram himself.  Sari was still barren of course (11:30), and  God was renewing His impossible promise.

Abram seems to have built the altars as a response to the renewal and confirmation of God's earlier promise (12:1-3). His calling on the Lord is said to be both worship, thanksgiving. It is also seen as   Abram identifying himself with the Name of the Lord, in the same way that a Christian identifies him or herself with Christ. Abram's response is of course an act of faith, and his response involves action.  It is about relationship, and relationship involves responding to each other. We too are called to respond to God in faith. Paul, speaking about not retaining God in unbelievers knowledge says  “when they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened” (Romans 1: 28, 21).

Paul is saying something important here. Firstly that we all start off knowing that God exists, that He is there (see also Romans 1:19, 20). Secondly we can loose that knowledge simply by not being thankful or by not worshipping Him,  by not calling on the name of the Lord! The Lord hates it when we are lukewarm, He would rather that we were cold (Revelation 3:16).  The Lord has taught me some things about negativity and thankfulness, about what it does to the brain, to our emotions,  and even to our physical health (you can suss out the research of Dr. Carolyne Leaf). So God is not some egotistical narcissist needing our thanks and praise to make Him feel good! No He does it because He wants the very, very best for us, and thankfulness and worship are big steps in His plan to bring life and health and peace to His beloved (Malachi 2:5). Some time ago now I started ending the day by writing down in my journal three things in my day for which I can be thankful.  It was hard in the beginning, but there are the old faithfuls, salvation, a place to live, friends, His Word, food etc.  And of course there are His exceedingly great and precious promises (2 Peter 1:4), and the  prayers of praise and thanksgiving in His  word

Thank You Lord, thank You, thank You,  thank You! You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power; For You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created.   You have redeemed us by Your blood Lord Jesus,  out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation. And we give Your thanks and praise,  and we worship You this morning Lord, in Your precious and Holy Name Amen