We were sitting around the table enjoying a wonderful Sabbath meal together while different ones were sharing their personal insights as it related to the short teaching from the weekly Torah Portion. One of the women around the table shared several brief stories from her own life of miraculous intervention regarding a recent project that she had been working on.
Each story that the woman shared contained the evident hand of God and one of the other women at the table suggested that she write a book about all that she has witnessed in this project as a testimony to others. The others around the table all agreed and encouraged our friend to consider documenting these miraculous encounters for the glory of God and the benefit of others.
Whenever we tell our personal stories about how God has worked in a miraculous manner, we provide an immediate challenge to the skeptic about the existence of God and we also encourage the faith of other believers. Our testimonies, regarding how God is working in our lives in the present day, lift the God of the Bible from the pages of history and cause others to take notice. This is evidenced in this week’s Torah Portion.
Yitro – Jethro
This week’s Torah Portion is named after Moses’ father-in-law, “יתרו” – “Yitro” or, as commonly referred to in English, “Jethro.” The name “יתרו” – “Yitro” means “his abundance” or “his excellence.” Yitro also goes by another name in the Scriptures, “Reuel” (Ex. 2:18), which means “friend of God.” Both names of Moses’ father-in-law are very positive and seem to fit this man well. From what we read about Yitro in the Bible, he appears to be a man of excellence and a friend of God.
Yitro (Jethro) lived in the land of Midian and served as a priest in Midian. In the opening verses of this week’s Torah Portion we read that Yitro came to seek out Moses:
Now Yitro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses and for Israel His people, how the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt… Then Yitro, Moses’ father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses in the wilderness where he was camped, at the mount of God. – Ex. 18:1,5
Yitro was looking for Moses for two reasons:
- The first reason was because Yitro heard about what God had done for Moses and the people of Israel.
- The second reason was to bring Moses’ wife and sons to him now that the children of Israel had been set free from Egypt.
The Testimony of Moses
Moses welcomed his father-in-law upon arrival and they immediately began to catch up on the time that had gone by as Moses spoke of all that had transpired since he had last seen his father-in-law:
Then Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, and he bowed down and kissed him; and they asked each other of their welfare and went into the tent. Moses told his father-in-law all that the LORD had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, all the hardship that had befallen them on the journey, and how the LORD had delivered them. – Ex. 18:7-8
Yitro had heard from others about how God had delivered the Israelites from Pharaoh and the Egyptians, however, now he was hearing firsthand testimonies from his own son-in-law regarding all that had transpired.
More than likely, Yitro could have sent a messenger to Moses in order to have Moses come and take his wife and sons, however, it appears from the text that Yitro was genuinely curious as to all that had transpired for Moses and the Israelites by the hand of the LORD and that he wanted to see and hear for himself all that he had heard about. Moses testified to all that the LORD had done for the people of Israel and Yitro must have listened intently.
Yitro came from Midian to the mountain of God to speak with Moses. It must have been a sight to see as Yitro approached the camp of the Israelites. We know that 600,000 men came out of Egypt and that this number didn’t include women and children (Ex. 12:37). The total number of Israelites, including men, women and children, was approximately 2-3 million people. To gaze upon a people 2-3 million strong, suddenly living in the desert region with the presence of God hovering over the people in a cloud be day and in a pillar of fire by night, must have taken his breath away.
Yitro Worshipped God
After Moses finished explaining to his father-in-law all that had transpired and how the LORD had delivered Israel from every difficulty along the journey, Yitro responded in the following manner:
Yitro rejoiced over all the goodness which the LORD had done to Israel, in delivering them from the hand of the Egyptians. So Yitro said, “Blessed be the LORD who delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of Pharaoh, and who delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians. Now I know that the LORD is greater than all the gods; indeed, it was proven when they dealt proudly against the people.” Then Yitro, Moses’ father-in-law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat a meal with Moses’ father-in-law before God. – Ex. 18:9-12
The result of hearing the testimony from Moses of all that God had done by bringing the people out of Egypt and the numerous miracles along the way caused Yitro to rejoice in the goodness of the LORD, to worship the LORD as the God above all gods, and to offer sacrifices to the LORD.
The testimony that Yitro had heard about Israel had been proven true and he rejoiced in all that the LORD had done. Although God had used Moses mightily throughout this whole process, Yitro saw beyond the man to the power of Almighty God. Yitro was a changed man because of the testimony of all that God had done through Moses and the Israelites. As a direct result of the testimony from Moses, Yitro confessed that the LORD is greater than all other gods and worshipped the LORD through sacrifice.
The Power of Testimony
The testimony of all that God has done and is doing in our lives provides a continual invitation to others to personally know the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and to worship Him. It is the heart of God to reveal Himself through His creation so that all of creation will worship Him (Psalm 148).
When King Solomon completed building the Temple, he brought all of the dedicated items for the Temple along with the ark of the covenant into the house of the LORD. Solomon then prayed a prayer of dedication over the Temple. In the midst of that prayer, Solomon prayed for the foreigners who would hear of the testimony of the LORD:
Also concerning the foreigner who is not of Your people Israel, when he comes from a far country for Your name’s sake (for they will hear of Your great name and Your mighty hand, and of Your outstretched arm); when he comes and prays toward this house, hear in heaven Your dwelling place, and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to You, in order that all the peoples of the earth may know Your name, to fear You, as do Your people Israel, and that they may know that this house which I have built is called by Your name. – 1 Kings 8:41-43
God chose His people to be a lighthouse to all of the nations of the world so that all the peoples of the earth may know Him and fear Him as the God of all of the universe.
Declaring the Works of God
When Yeshua entered into the region of Samaria, He changed the life of one woman who had been living a less than perfect lifestyle. Yeshua revealed Himself as the Messiah to this woman who had come to the local well and He offered her the living waters of eternal life. The woman believed in Him and her life was forever changed. She then went and declared to the people of her city all that He did for her.
The woman from Samaria proclaimed to her own people the works of God through Yeshua and challenged them to consider if He could be the Messiah. The response of the people from her city was overwhelming:
From that city many of the Samaritans believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, “He told me all the things that I have done.” So when the Samaritans came to Jesus, they were asking Him to stay with them; and He stayed there two days. Many more believed because of His word; and they were saying to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves and know that this One is indeed the Savior of the world.” – John 4:39-42
One woman was faithful to testify of what God had done in her life and a whole city was forever changed.
What has God recently done in your life? Have you shared it with others? We are here on this earth to testify to all the wonders which God has performed. The wonders of God can be as grand and miraculous as dividing the sea, as He did through Moses, or as intimate and personal as speaking a word of light and truth into one’s heart, as Yeshua did in the life of the Samaritan woman. We are called to declare the works of the living God so that others may know Him and share in the joy of believing in His Name. Let us be bold and testify to the works of the living God!
Shabbat Shalom
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Torah Portion: Ex. 18:1 – Ex. 20:26
Haftara: Isaiah 6:1 – Isaiah 7:6 & Isaiah 9:6-7
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Amen. And Amen! This is a very precious and timely commentary. It has always been very clear to me that we must proclaim to others how God blesses us in so many ways everyday. Indeed, He is a living God and shows His great love and care for us all the time. I have also been curious about Jethro and wondered if he was African since Numbers 12:1 says Zipporah was Ethiopian.
Dear Daniel,
Your commentary about declaring the works of God reminds me of an email that I received from a brother in Yeshua just after the New Year’s massacre at a nightclub in Turkey. The brother explained how such acts of terrorism perpetrated by Islamic extremists are actually turning Turks away from Islam and toward faith in Yeshua. The brother also cited his awareness of specific individual Turks coming to faith in Yeshua and the growth of specific local Turkish assemblies.
While I was both repulsed and saddened by the aforementioned sadistic act of terror, I was very encouraged to learn of the tangible fruits of Yeshua’s laborers in Turkey. In fact, as I read the “Good News” declared in the brother’s email, I quite literally exclaimed, Praise God! Hallelujah!
At church yesterday we studied through Psalm 118, which is a beautiful declaration of the works of God. Moreover:
1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
Much Shalom,
Sal:-)
Very encouraging word. Thank you Sal.
Daniel
Shalom
I’m interested in Yitro – what kind of priest was he in Midian? Was he a
pagan priest who later came to faith
in the God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob? This is what I gather from the Bible texts concerning him but I want
to know if this is correct. Thank you.
Dear Susan,
Thank you for your question. To be honest, we don’t know more about Yitro except what it written in the text. Since we read that he had this amazing encounter with the LORD after hearing the testimony of Moses regarding the Israelites, it would seem that Yitro was a pagan priest who came to know/fear the LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Daniel