Yitro

Parashas Yitro

Exodus 18:1 – 20:23

Haftarah

Yeshayahu Isaiah 6:1-7:14

Brit Chadashah

Alef Timtheous, I Timothy 3:1-14

Please Pray this

Prayer

First before reading.

In the name of Yahushua

Our Messiyah,

I pray for the Spirit of Understanding

The Spirit of Knowledge and

The Spirit of Wisdom

As I read through this Parashas

The title of this Torah portion is Yitro “Jethro” refers to Moses father-in-law, his other name is Reuel Exo 2:18 which mean friend of God. It is the 17^TH portion of the Torah Cycle, in which ABBA YAHWEH gave Moses the Torah, ABBA YAHWEH offers the Yisraelites the greatest spiritual revelation of Light ever, and a visit by Yitro to their camp.

If Moses was the conduit for the Torah, why is this portion not called the giving of the Torah, or even Moses, why was it called Yitro? What is so significant about Yitro that it warrant having this Torah portion called after him?

What Yitro brought to the camp spiritually was a prerequisite to them as it is for us to receiving immortality, so let’s take a closer look at this idea. As we learn from Moses encounter with the burning bush, when we are truly ready to connect to the Light of the CREATOR, we attain a state of elevated consciousness where everything that happens is significant.

If a relative or even a friend like Yitro should come to you, the head of a mega Church and said, “I know that you think you are doing a good job, but actually you are not; let me tell you how to do it better,” it is very likely you might be offended. In this Torah portion, however, we see that we put our spiritual selves at risk if we do not acknowledge the messages we receive from everyone, even a person like Yetro.

As believers we cannot receive correction if we are not willing to listen, even to a donkey as blind Bilaam, who had to be correct by an ass. When we become fully aware that we should consider everything, and everyone, as if it were coming from ABBA YAHWEH, even when its source is a person who is less that favorable, then we are ready to receive the greater spiritual revelation.

The Torah did not say Moses listened to the words of Yitro, but to the voice of the spirit of the voice of Yitro, and Moses did everything Yitro said. Moses understood the spirit behind everything Yitro said, even if he might not have said it in the right way. There was an enormous spiritual divide between Moses and Yitro, yet Moses was humble and spiritual enough to understand that he had something to gain even from Yitro. Our spiritual growth comes from everything we hear.

The visit of Yitro to Moses was twofold. One Moses showed Yitro the Blessing of ABBA YAHWEH, and as we learn in Exodus 18:11 Yitro said that “Now I know that יהוה  is greater than all the mighty ones, indeed in the matter in which they acted proudly, above them.”  Now it was Moses turn to be blessed by Yitro.

In a river that flow we will find many smooth stones in that river. Those stone did not get that way by the water flowing over it. They got that way when each rock rub against each other, when the influence of the water forces them together. This incident was the Work of the Holy Spirit the Water, bringing Moses and Yitro together, and each person perform a smoothing action that leave the other person more refined. Moses was made the better from Yitro visit and Yitro was made the better by Moses.

Without the interaction between believers, the refining process cannot be complete. We can study all day and all night, but we will not elevate unless we merit assistance from the interaction of other believers.

When a believer is will to listen, even to the smallest child, he or she will be opening themselves to receive more revelation. If a person’s wisdom is greater than his or her spiritual actions, it cannot last because there is no vessel to contain the light he or she is revealing. When we reveal more Light than our Vessel can hold, the excess will floats away.

We can only hold on to the amount of Light that our vessel is capable of. The purpose of our spiritual growth is to create a large enough Vessel, so that all the Light that has been revealed to us, may find a home. He who has an ear the hear let him hear.

Exo 18:1 And Yithro, the priest of Midyan, Mosheh’s father-in-law, heard of all that Elohim had done for Mosheh and for Yisra’ĕl His people, that יהוה  had brought Yisra’ĕl out of Mitsrayim. – Jethro heard about the miracles: of the ten Plague, what happened at the Red Sea, and even the War with Amalek. The combination of Jethro and Amalek shows the contract between good and evil. Both parties had heard about the Exodus, but Jethro reacted by casting his lot with the nation of Yisrael, while Amalek became the symbol of treachery and evil by defying the True and Living Elohim, by attacking a weak and weary people.

Miracles alone do not influence the belief of the Amaleks of this world system; those who refused to recognize the Mighty Hand of Elיהוה  YAHWEH, will always interpret events to suit their own purposes.

Exo 18:2 And Yitro, Mosheh’s father-in-law, took Tsipporah, the wife of Mosheh – after he had sent her back, - Moses had some-how send his wife and entire family back to her fathers. After hearing of the success of Moses, Jethro came personally to see this great wonders that EL YAHWEH had done for Yisrael and Moses and to return his wife Tsipporah. The name Tsipporah means bird.

Exo 18:3 and her two sons, of whom the name of one was Gĕreshom, for he said, “I have been a sojourner in a foreign land,” – Moses had been saved from the sword by sojourning in a strange land. By choosing the Name Gershom, Moses indicates that he was always a sojourner on this world, even before his flight from Egypt.

When Moses was a homeless wander, he decided to married the daughter of A Midianite priest, now the role was reversed. Yitro brought Moses family to rejoin him and introduced himself as Moses’ father-in-law, The Torah referred to Yitro that way throughout the chapter. He was received royally, not only by Moses, but by the entire Children of Yisrael, and he was later justified with the honor to give counsel to Moses on how to organize the nations of Yisrael judicial system.

Exo 18:4 and the name of the other was Eliezer, for he said, “The Elohim of my father was my help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh.” – The name of his other son was Eliezer, meaning that EL YAHWEH is my helper. Any possible escape from this world system as Egypt was to be done by a Divine purpose. The name Gershon means refugee and the name Eliezer means god of help.

Exo 18:5 Yitro, Mosheh’s father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Mosheh in the wilderness, where he was encamped at the mountain of Elohim. – All true leaders will always bring their people, those trusted to their care, to the mountain of EL YAHWEH.

Exo 18:6 And he had said to Mosheh, “I, your father-in-law Yithro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons with her.” – It is clear from scripture that Moses showed the highest respect to Metro, his father-in-law.

Exo 18:7 And Mosheh went out to meet his father-in-law, and bowed down, and kissed him. And they asked each other about their welfare, and they went into the tent. – A description of Torah hospitality at its best.

Exo 18:8 And Mosheh told his father-in-law all that יהוה  had done to Pharaoh and to the Mitsrites for Yisra’ĕl’s sake, all the hardship that had come upon them on the way, and how יהוה  had delivered them. – Here is a sure way of greeting a visitor to your home or country, by taking about what EL YAHWEH had done for us, and the journey He has brought us through and were we will be going spiritually. They did not talk about the super bowl last week of the latest basketball score, not even the weather. But ABBA YAHWEH and HIS great work.

Exo 18:9 And Yithro rejoiced for all the good which יהוה  had done for Yisra’ĕl, whom He had delivered out of the hand of the Mitsrites. – It is certain that Jethro was a believer yet, but there is a strong indicator that maybe he was a better one after. But I do believe that the whole scenario was to increase the spiritual advantage of both Moses and Yitro.

Exo 18:10 And Yithro said, “Blessed be יהוה , who has delivered you out of the hand of the Mitsrites and out of the hand of Pharaoh, and who has delivered the people from under the hand of the Mitsrites. – When the People of EL YAHWEH truly follow Torah, people will call HIM and us blessed.

Exo 18:11 “Now I know that יהוה  is greater than all the mighty ones, indeed in the matter in which they acted proudly, above them.” - Jethro exclaimed that the proof of EL YAHWEH’S omnipotence was that not only had He thwarted and punished the Egyptians, He had done to them what they had conspired to do to the Hebrew people, measure for measure. Pharaoh and his minions had tries to drown the male child and the final downfall of the Egyptians was the drowning of the best of the male population in the Red Sea. Even Jethro who only heard of the miracle understand it clearly enough to declare the Supremacy of EL YAHWEH.

Exo 18:12 Then Yithro, the father-in-law of Mosheh, brought a burnt offering and other slaughtering unto Elohim. And Aharon came with all the elders of Yisra’ĕl to eat bread with the father-in-law of Mosheh before Elohim. -  The dignity of the leadership of Yisrael joining Jethro in a festive meal to celebrate the event speaks volume for him. An Elevation offering which is burnt in its entirety on the Altar, is offered by all believer, and the festive offering were an expressions of gratitude to EL YAHWEH for having allowed him to enter under the wings of the Divine Presence.

Jethro saw a scene that he found inexplicable. Moses sat and the people stood before him with their problems. Jethro in the Spirit of Wisdom, Knowledge and Understanding, He counsel Moses pertaining to his actions. EL YAHWEH sometime used not-so-righteous people to speak on His behalf, particular if they hold the Spirit of Counsel as Jethro certainly did as a priest of Midian.

Exo 18:13 And it came to be, on the next day, that Mosheh sat to rightly rule the people. And the people stood before Mosheh from morning until evening. – The next day after the feast, Moses sat to judge between the people. Some says that it was the Day after Yom Kippur the day when the people come to forgave each other. The people came to Moses for judgment as a continuation of the spirit of Yom Kippur, out of a desire to continue the day’s spirit of unity. This might well be true; however Moses was the judge over the whole camp. It was an all day activity, even Moses who is a mature individual, needed to have someone mentor him in the fine detail of delegation of responsibility. EL YAHWEH must have known that Yetro had developed this trait in himself and was about to use him to mentor Moses.

Exo 18:14 And when the father-in-law of Mosheh saw all that he did for the people, he said, “What is this that you are doing for the people? Why do you sit by yourself, and all the people stand before you from morning until evening?” – The Spirit of Discernment is a result of the infilling of the Ruach, he saw first in the Spirit what was happening, then he spoke to Moses in the Spirit of Wisdom. But notice the tactic he uses when he approach Moses. He asked question. What is this you are doing for the people? Why do you sit by yourself, and all the people stand before you all day long? This was a none treating approached to any possible leader.   

Exo 18:15 And Mosheh said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to seek Elohim. – The humbleness of Moses made him an easy target for overworkitis. He did not know how to say no. The evil one will try to use our strength and weakness against us. That is why we must be well balance individual, one who knows when to say no and when to say yes and when to refer.

Exo 18:16 “When they have a matter, they come to me, and I rightly rule between one and another, and make known the laws of Elohim and His Torah.” – The credential of Moses was not the issue, nor was it his character. The issue here was his work schedule. Delegate, Delegate, Delegate should be the matter of all good leaders.

Exo 18:17 And the father-in-law of Mosheh said to him, “What you are doing is not good.  - By identifying Jethro as Moses’ Father-in-law, the Torah pays him tribute, as he is about to offer the wise counsel that would become the norm for all the years in the wilderness.

Exo 18:18 “Both you and these people with you shall certainly wear yourselves out. For the matter is too heavy for you. You are not able to do it by yourself. – The compound verb usage of the Hebrew is generally understood as an indication of emphasis, therefore it is translation as burn out. Spiritual fatigue comes in two stages: first the feeling of been weak; second one can no longer perform his or her duties. Alternatively, fatigue can strike not only a righteous man like Moses, who bears the primarily burden, but also the other leaders.

Exo 18:19 “Now listen to my voice. Let me counsel you and Elohim be with you: Stand before Elohim for the people, and you shall bring the matters to Elohim. – This is the defining character of a mature leader, one who is full with the Spirit of Wisdom, Knowledge, and Understanding. Now listen to me and let me counsel you and take it back to EL YAHWEH for verification. The light that Yithro brought to Moses is the same principle that works in the dark kingdom. Our electrical system works on an oscillation between positive and negative 60 time per-second, the same formula for the negative cycle is the same for the positive cycle. There are principles that work both ways regardless of which kingdom we are in.

Exo 18:20 “And you shall enlighten them concerning the laws and the Torah, and show them the way in which they should walk and the work which they do. – Jethro prefaced his advice by acknowledging that his plan required EL YAHWEH’s approval. Jethro conceded that some of Moses’ function could be carried out only by himself, which is the greater matters of the law. Therefore, Moses would continue to be intermediary between YAHWEH and Yisrael, bringing His requests to Him. Also Moses would teach them the Torah. However, for the adjudication of dispute, which would require the application of the law and the evaluation of evidence, Jethro suggested a system of delegated authority.

Exo 18:21 “But you yourself, seek out from all the people able men, who fear Elohim, men of truth, hating unfair gain. And place these over them to be rulers of Thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. – Jethro did not say to choose, he wanted Moses to select the leaders by means of his Divine insight. The qualification of these men, they should be spiritually able both physically and spiritually; Men who have the Spirit of the Fear of EL YAHWEH in their lives, meaning a mature believer. Men of truth are those who know Torah, those who are honest. Meaning they cannot be bought.

The arrangement is that there would be groups of 10. Each leader would be in charge of a group of 10, and each of those interns would rule over 10.

The leaders of the lowest 10 would be able to decide the simpler cases and the more difficult ones would work their way up to the most distinguished leaders, until, if necessary Moses would be the last resort.

Exo 18:22 “And they shall rightly rule the people at all times. And it shall be that they bring every great matter to you, but they themselves rightly rule every small matter. So, make it lighter for yourself, for they shall bear with you. – Jethro contend that by following this advise, the people would have judges ready at all to serve the people whenever they need. This would also free Moses from the exhausting burden that was consuming his time and sapping his strength.

Exo 18:23 “If you do this word “principles”, and Elohim shall command you, then you shall be able to stand and all this people also go to their place in peace.” – when people are confident that they are ruled justly, they are at peace, free from resentment and frustration, for people can more easily cope with problems and poverty than with the feeling that more powerful or better connection individual are taking advantage of them. With justice comes contentment.

Exo 18:24 And Mosheh listened to the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he said. – Mature men and women, should not be afraid to take advice. Listen is first of all a spiritual thing. The Spirit of Wisdom will give us the ability to see Counsel, and the spirit of decrement to know the difference. There are a lot of people who listen, but they do not hear. It goes through one ear and through the next. Listening is a spiritual thing, just like stubbornness is also a spirit.