Hebrew Root

                        The Root of Our Faith


 Plant a Tree
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Updated 11/16/10

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___________________

Parashah 17: Yitro
("Jethro")

by Michael Bugg

Torah:  Sh’mot (Exodus) 18:1-20:23

Haftarah:  Yesha'yahu 6:1-13 (S), 6:1-7:6 (A)

B’rit Chadasha:  Acts 7:1-60

The Theme

We are often discouraged when someone we care for doesn't listen to us.  The Holy One certainly understands that frustration!  He personally and through Moshe gave His people Israel His commandments as a covenant with them, but they broke that covenant "though I, for My part, was a husband to them" (Jer. 31:32(31).  He then repeatedly sent His prophets, culminating in the Prophet like unto Moshe, Messiah Himself, and still our hearts were dull, our ears stopped, and our eyes closed!  Even after the Coming, Sacrifice, and Resurrection of Messiah, the leaders of Israel continued to reject His messengers!

We feel something of our Father's frustration over His children, because we ourselves know what it is like to be ignored.  But we must remember, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."  We are all guilty of ignoring our Father's commands and teachings--that is why He had to sacrifice His Son on our behalf. 

Therefore, instead of becoming proud and stony-hearted, let us instead be like Moshe, "very humble, more than any man who was on the face of the earth" (Num. 12:3).  He was not too proud to take his father-in-law Yitro's advice when it was offered, nor to delegate the great authority and responsibility that the Holy One had given him for fear of lessening his personal position. If our Master humbled Himself unto death, can we not humble ourselves enough to bend our ears to our Father, even when He speaks through our brothers and sisters?

Shalom!

 

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