Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - THREE SIGNS

                                                                                               

                         

                                         THREE SIGNS*

One of the problems encountered in just reading the Bible is that of missing many of the subtleties embedded in the scriptures. This seems especially true in the Old Testament where the Jewish people were meant to understand the meaning of a phrase and others were not. In the book of Exodus, Moses was provided with three signs by God - signs to give Pharaoh an indication of the seriousness of God’s request.

The first sign, of course, was that of the rod which became a snake.

So the Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?

He said “A rod.”

And He said, “Cast it on the ground.” 

So he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent…

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Reach out your hand and take it by the tail” 

(and he reached out his hand and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand)… 

(Exodus 4:2-4)

This snake, most likely a cobra, represented one of the most ancient of Egyptian gods and was meant to symbolize the divine authority of Pharaoh - his power, absolute authority to rule, ability to maintain and enforce order, and also as a means of protection from all harm. The fact that the snake of Moses’ rod devoured the corresponding snakes that came from Pharaoh’s magicians showed the gods of Egypt were powerless before the Lord.

The second sign was that of the leprous hand.

…[T]he Lord said to him “Now put your hand in your bosom.” 

And he put his hand in his bosom, 

and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous, like snow.

And He said, “Put your hand in your bosom again.” 

So he put his hand in his bosom again, and drew it out of his bosom, 

and behold, it was restored like his other flesh. 

"Then it will be, if they do not believe you, nor heed the message of the first sign, 

that they may believe the message of the latter sign…”

(Exodus 4:6-8) 

In the Torah apparently, leprosy is felt to occur as a result of “evil speech"; gossip and pride. The word “pharaoh” in Hebrew can also be read to mean “evil speech.” This was apparently an indication that the pharaohs of Egypt would be judged because of their arrogance and pride in enslaving the Hebrews. It was also a sign to the Hebrews concerning their redemption for this was the plague that evidently affected Pharaoh over the incident with Abraham’s wife.

But the Lord plagued Pharaoh and his house 

with great plagues because of Sarai, Abraham’s wife. 

(Genesis 12:17)

It was a sign that what the Lord did for Abraham He would also do for Israel.

But there was also a third sign.

"And it shall be, if they do not believe even these two signs…

that you shall take water from the river and pour it on the dry land. 

The water which you take from the river will become blood on the dry land." 

(Exodus 4:9)

This was to be an indication that God remembered all the Hebrew infants that had been thrown into the Nile on the order of Pharaoh. It is also believed to be the first plague that points to the future Messiah; His spilled blood from the lashes and nails and the water and blood that would come from His side when pierced by a spear.

More indications that the Bible has additional meaning than just what might be inferred from a simple reading and also something more to think about.

*Adapted from Mysteries of the Messiah pg 85-89 by Rabbi Jason Sobel

Spencer Barclay August 25, 2024

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - 38

38

We are often told that the Israelites spent 40 years in the desert before coming to the promised land. In truth, it was about 38 years that were spent wondering about as punishment for their disbelief and unfaithfulness to God. This is documented in Deuteronomy chapter 2 

And the time we took to come from Kadesh Barnea 

until we crossed over the Valley of the Zared 

was thirty-eight years, 

until all the generation of the men war 

was consumed from the midst of the camp…

(Deuteronomy 2:14)

Now, this little detail does not seem of too much consequence at first glance, but it becomes more relevant when we look at another story in the New Testament. In the book of John, Jesus heals a man by the pool of Bethesda.

Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty eight years.

When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew he already 

had been in that condition a long time, He said to him,

"Do you want to be made well?”

…Jesus said to him “Rise, take up your bed and walk.”

And immediately the man was made well…

(John 5:5-9)

In Hebrew, the numeric value for “his heart” is 38, and by asking him if he wanted healing, Jesus was really asking what was in his heart. Did he want to have the same mentality of servitude and being a victim as had the people who kept rebelling and complaining as they left Egypt or did he really want to change? The man’s answer demonstrated that he wished to change and not have the same victim mentality that he had had for 38 years and that the Israelites had had before him.  

The point here is simply this: The Israelites were in the wilderness 38 years because they kept testing and trying God and as a result most of them died without ever seeing the promised land.

…All the people who came out of Egypt who were males,

all the men of war,

had died in the wilderness on the way… 

(Joshua 5:4)

The man at the well showed that a victim mentality does not have to define us and by choosing to believe and have faith we can escape whatever “desert” we may be in. What is really in our “heart,” whether to follow Christ or not, is what ultimately determines whether we die in the desert or enter into the new beginning that was meant for us all.

It really is something to think about.

 

Rev, Natasha Dantiste August 18, 2024

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - TWO SETS

TWO SETS*

There are few parts of the Bible, if any, that do not in some aspect have more than one meaning. This is why the Bible is considered to be allegorical in many ways and this is again evident in the story of the Ten Commandments and the two sets of tablets. Whenever there is a number used in the Bible, there is always the question as to why that particular number is involved; the Ten Commandments being no different. Why were there two sets of tablets and why two tablets each time instead of only one?

It has been said that one tablet gave the instruction for the relationship between God and man; the second the relationship between man and man. And it all had to do with the love that should exist between the two. The first four Commandments indicated how man should honour and respect God; the last six how man should honour and respect each other. 

Mark put it this way:

‘…[Y]ou shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, 

and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ 

This is the first commandment [tablet]. 

And the second [tablet], like it, is this:

 ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself…’ 

(Mark 12:30-31)

Now, when Moses was on the mountain with God, and God composed the tablets with the Law, the people themselves grew restless and turned away from God creating a golden calf to worship in His stead. Moses, coming down from the mountain, became angry and cast the tablets out of his hands and broke them:

…at the foot of the mountain… 

…So the Lord plagued the people 

because of what they did with the calf which Aaron made.

(Exodus 32:19,35) 

Because of the actions of the people had resulted in the destruction of the two tablets, Moses again ascended the mountain and again God gave him two tablets with the Law written on them. Once more Moses descended to the people but this time there was no difficulty and the tablets remained intact and were placed in the Ark of the Covenant. According to Jewish lore, the broken tablets were also placed in the Ark along with the intact set. 

So what, if anything, does all this mean. It is said that the first set of tablets represent the first coming of the Messiah who was broken [crucified] due to the rejection of the people and the broken fragments represent the brokenness of the nation and of the people. The sound of the pieces moving about inside the Ark as it was carried gave a constant reminder of this fact. And ever since the nation, in fact the world, has been plagued with dissent and difficulty. The second set of tablets represent the second coming of the Messiah when He will not be broken but will return to bring healing and wholeness to the nations once more. All because the main theme of His return is love. As Paul put it:

And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; 

but the greatest of these is love 

(1 Corinthians 13:13)

When Christ returns, there will be no more need for faith or hope because our faith will have been rewarded and what we have been hoping for will be before us; but love will only increase and be eternal. And all this provided we love God (tablet 1) and love each other (tablet 2)

Certainly something to think about.

*Adapted in part from Mysteries of the Messiah by Rabbi Jason Sobel, pg. 132-133

Rev Vincent Henley August 11, 2024

Dr. Barclay's Bible Study - The Books of Thessalonians Part 18

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think Aout - FIRSTBORN

FIRSTBORN

        The term “firstborn” is one that is used often in Scripture. It designates, of course, the one who is born first, whether it be man or animal, and often indicates the privileged position that particular one has in the culture of the land. In Egyptian society, such a person would be expected to be the main leader of the family, the primary protector and provider, and the one who would most likely raise to a position of prominence in the area. The firstborn of Pharaoh would, without doubt, inherit the throne of Egypt.

And it was really no different in Jewish society. The firstborn usually received the father’s blessing and received the birthright of the family. In the Old Testament, the patriarch of the family would often be putting his hand on the head of the firstborn to provide the patriarchal blessing. 

It, then, was in such a setting that God confronted Moses to go to Egypt. Moses, who initially objected, finally relented and agreed to go. And God told him to say to Pharaoh:

“…Israel is My son, My firstborn.

…[L]et My son go that he may serve Me. 

But if you refuse to let him go, indeed I will kill your son, 

your firstborn. 

(Exodus 4:22-23)

But before this came about, God sent 9 previous plagues in an effort to give Pharaoh ample time to adhere to God’s request and possibly avoid the judgement that He initially proclaimed. In the same vein, He has sent many warnings and difficulties in our time in an effort to make us understand the forthcoming ultimate judgement that lies in wait for us all.

God, not being a respecter of person or cultures, often did not follow the Jewish traditions of the rights of the firstborn. Throughout Scripture, for example, He chose Issac over Ishmael, Jacob over the firstborn Esau, David, the youngest son of Jesse, over all of his older brothers, and Judah, the forth of Jacob’s sons, to be leader of the twelve tribes. And through Christ, He made everyone potential joint heirs with Him so that all who may can be firstborn with the rights that go with that designation. So we are all firstborn and part of the…

 

…church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven,

to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect… 

(Hebrews 12:23)

Whereas in human society, the rights of the firstborn belonged to only one in a family, in the eyes of God, we are all firstborn, members of the "church of the firstborn in heaven” (Hebrews 12:23) and as a result heir…

…heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him,

that we may also be glorified together. 

(Romans 8:17)

In considering this, however, we should not forget the ultimate judgement that is coming and the warnings that God sent to Pharaoh before His judgement came. Perhaps we should not ignore the events taking place around us at present and perhaps consider them similar to the warnings God gave to Pharaoh thousands of years ago. The grief we could potentially avoid should give us all something to think about.

GOOD NEWS

 

 Good News!!!

Yes indeed, this is good news!!

 Last night during Master’s Hand Ministry service we were honoured and pleased to have Matthew and Jasmine Trott presented with their Ministerial License. Along with their sons, Lennox and Levi we are excited to have them join us. 

They have been with our ministry now for over a year. Pastor Matthew and Pastor Jasmine are looking forward to continuing to serve our community and extend a great big welcome to all new comers. 

If you are searching for a home church where the love of God is paramount then please join us at 6 P. M., every Sunday at the Hillside community Hall.

Come and meet our new Pastors for they surely are excited to meet you.

Caroline Barclay August 4, 2024

 

Caroline Barclay August 4, 2024 - YouTube