Today's Torah Portion is "Yitro - Jethro". Now Jethro, the priest (ruler) of Midian and father-in-law of Moses heard of everything God had done for Moses and for His people Israel, and how YHVH brought Israel out of Egypt. He came to see Moses in the wilderness, bringing with him Zipporah, Moses' wife and their two sons Gershom and Eliezer. (Moses had sent his wife and sons back to live with Jethro.) After greeting them warmly, Moses spoke privately with his father-in-law, telling him about the harsh treatment of the Egyptians toward the people of Israel and how God rescued them. That evening the leaders of Israel shared a meal with Moses and Jethro. The following day Moses sat to settle disputes between the people from morning to evening. Jethro asked Moses why he was the only one settling the disputes. He said that Moses would soon wear himself out. Jethro advised Moses to choose from among the people competent men who were God-fearing, honest and incorruptible to share this load with Moses. They could handle all the minor disputes and bring the difficult cases to Moses. And Moses did as his father-in-law suggested. Then Jethro's visit was over and he returned to his own country.
In the third month after the people of Israel left Egypt they set up camp in the Sinai Desert. Moses went up to God and YHVH called down to him from the mountain. YHVH instructed Moses to tell the people... "You have seen what I did to the Egyptians and how I carried you on Eagles' wings and brought you to myself. Now if you pay careful attention to what I say and keep my covenant, then you will be my own treasure from among all the peoples for all the earth is mine; and you will be a kingdom of priests for me, a nation set apart." Exodus 19:4-6
The people answered as one, "Everything YHVH has said, we will do." Moses instructed them to wash their clothes and prepare to meet God. On the third day Moses brought the people to the base of Mount Sinai and YHVH descended upon it in a fire.
Then God said all these words:
*I am YHVH your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the abode of slavery.
*You are to have no other gods before me. You are not to make a carved image to bow down to or serve.
*You are not to use lightly the name of YHVH your God.
*Remember the day Shabbat, to set it apart for God. You have six days to do all your labor and work - but the seventh day is a Shabbat for YHVH your God.
*Honor your father and mother so that you may live long in the land which YHVH your God is giving you.
*Do not murder.
*Do not commit adultery.
*Do not steal.
*Do not give false evidence against your neighbor.
*Do not covet anything that is your neighbor's.
It hadn't even been three months since leaving Egypt and the people of Israel were keeping Moses busy from morning to evening helping them to settle disputes between themselves. This victimized people didn't know how to get along with each other. For generations they had lived as slaves - every aspect of their lives controlled. And now God was choosing them to be His people. They needed training in the very basics. They had known the gods of Egypt but not YHVH. God showed them that He was far greater than the gods of Egypt with the signs and wonders and plagues just before the Exodus. Then God introduced himself to them at Mount Sinai. And He gave them laws to live by - laws that would make them a successful and prosperous people; laws that would show the world that they were the people of YHVH - God of Israel.
How blessed we are to have these Words of the Most High God preserved for us! We are blessed if we live according to these words.
Dear Father,
Thank you for sharing your way of life with us. Thank you for teaching us the basics; how to worship you and how to get along with each other. Thank you for showing us how to love you. We show that we love you by obeying your commands (1 John 5:3). Please Father, let your words be written in our hearts and in our minds so that we can truly become your treasured people.
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