Yitro יִתְרוֹ - Jethro
Torah Portion: Exodus: 18:1-20:22
Haftarah: Isaiah 6:1-7:6, 9:5-6
Shabbat: Exodus 20:15–23
20:15 “You shall not steal.
16 “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.”
18 All the people perceived the thunderings, the lightnings, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking. When the people saw it, they trembled and stayed at a distance. 19 They said to Moses, “Speak with us yourself, and we will listen; but don’t let Elohim speak with us, lest we die.”
20 Moses said to the people, “Don’t be afraid, for Elohim has come to test you, and that His fear may be before you, that you won’t sin.” 21 The people stayed at a distance, and Moses came near to the thick darkness where Elohim was.
22 Hashem said to Moses, “This is what you shall tell the children of Israel: ‘You yourselves have seen that I have talked with you from heaven. 23 You shall most certainly not make gods of silver or gods of gold for yourselves to be alongside me.
Today’s Meditation:
It seems like every day and every week, as I study a particular Torah portion, it applies to my life and what is happening now. For instance, the Commandment not to covet your neighbor’s house. We are in the process of purchasing a house and selling our current one. We are moving to the same city, and need to downsize. So, we take walks and drives and look at houses. Even houses that are not for sale, we look at and make comments. I had to be careful this week, because I was starting to covet some houses. However, because I have been studying and trying to follow the Commandments and have repented quickly, I told Hashem that, whatever house He gives us, we will be delighted.
Sometimes, following the Commandments is a daily task, especially when we examine what is going on in our minds. I don’t know about you, but it seems the more I study and get to know Hashem’s desires for us, the quicker I feel convicted of my own sins. And I am learning to repent quickly, to change, and to take one day at a time.
Today’s Challenge:
During my coveting experience this week, I also had a strong thought about those who are in need. Here I am, thinking about buying a new house, when many people around the world don’t even have houses. We must remember to help those who are less fortunate than we are. We must not forget to pray for hunger, abuse, and poverty to stop. And we must not forget to pray for the Mashiach to return, so that the earth can return to its original plan, just like the Garden.
This Week’s Haftarah Reading: Isaiah 6:1-7:6, 9:5-6
6 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw Hashem sitting on a throne, high and lifted up; and his train filled the temple. 2 Above him stood the seraphim. Each one had six wings. With two, he covered his face. With two, he covered his feet. With two, he flew. 3 One called to another, and said,
“Holy, holy, holy, is Hashem of Armies!
The whole earth is full of His glory!”
4 The foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. 5 Then I said, “Woe is me! For I am undone, because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell among a people of unclean lips: for my eyes have seen the King, Hashem of Armies!”
6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar. 7 He touched my mouth with it, and said, “Behold, this has touched your lips; and your iniquity is taken away, and your sin forgiven.”
8 I heard Hashem’s voice, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?”
Then I said, “Here I am. Send me!”
9 He said, “Go, and tell this people,
‘You hear indeed,
but don’t understand.
You see, indeed,
but don’t perceive.’
10 Make the heart of this people fat.
Make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes;
lest they see with their eyes,
hear with their ears,
understand with their heart,
and turn again, and be healed.”
11 Then I said, “Hashem, how long?”
He answered,“Until cities are waste without inhabitants,
houses without man,
the land becomes utterly waste,
12 and Hashem has removed men far away,
and the forsaken places are many within the land.
13 If there is a tenth left in it,
that also will in turn, be consumed,
as a terebinth, and as an oak, whose stump remains when they are cut down;
so the holy seed is its stock.”
7 In the days of Ahaz, the son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, went up to Jerusalem to war against it, but could not prevail against it. 2 David’s house was told, “Syria is allied with Ephraim.” His heart trembled, and the heart of his people, as the trees of the forest tremble with the wind.
3 Then Hashem said to Isaiah, “Go out now to meet Ahaz, you, and Shearjashub your son, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool, on the highway of the fuller’s field. 4 Tell him, ‘Be careful, and keep calm. Don’t be afraid, neither let your heart be faint because of these two tails of smoking torches, for the fierce anger of Rezin and Syria, and of the son of Remaliah. 5 Because Syria, Ephraim, and the son of Remaliah, have plotted evil against you, saying, 6 “Let’s go up against Judah, and tear it apart, and let’s divide it among ourselves, and set up a king within it, even the son of Tabeel.”
Isaiah 9:5 For all the armor of the armed man in the noisy battle, and the garments rolled in blood, will be for burning, fuel for the fire. 6 For a child is born to us. A son is given to us, and the government will be on his shoulders. His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty Elohim, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Today’s Haftarah Meditation:
He is the Hashem of armies. We sometimes forget the ultimate power of our Elohim. Not only is He sovereign over all the world, but He also leads the spiritual armies in the heavens. He wages war on our behalf daily. He must be encouraged by our prayers and our needs. He wants to join us in our battles. But, only if we let Him. It’s time to let Hashem be in control of your needs, your struggles. It’s time to let go.
Today’s Haftarah Challenge:
Can you imagine a whole world full of the glory of Hashem (verse 3)? Are you prepared for this? Am I prepared? That is why Hashem gave us His Law. It gets us ready. In a world full of sin and temptation, He has outlined a clear path to holiness for us. And He tells us it is not too difficult.
Today is a good day (Shabbat) for self-reflection. Take a hard look at your life and praise Hashem for the things you are doing right and ask His help to correct the things you are doing wrong. Each day is a new day. Continue to strive to overcome sin in your life. If you fall, get right back up. And hold unto Him, the author and finisher of your faith.
