Yitro יִתְרוֹ - Jethro
Exodus: 18:1-20:22
Reading #6 - Exodus 19:20–20:14
My Thoughts:
The worship of idols is against everything Hashem stands for. When He gives the Commandments, He warns us that the sin of idolatry will fall on to our descendants. And if we do not worship false gods, He will bless us by being kind to us (verses 5 & 6)! Which do you choose for your life? To be treated wonderfully from Hashem with blessings, or to have your children and their children cursed because of your sin? Think about it and make a decision. Follow Hashem and His Commandments and have no other gods before you!
Challenge:
Today I challenge you to look at the “idols” in your life. You may be surprised what you do worship -- I know I am. Yes, we worship and love Hashem. But, we do other things too. What about TV? We sit before it, we eat before it, we absorb ourselves in it -- isn’t that like an idol? The same with our social media, computers and phones. I’ll bet you spend more time on those things then you do studying the Word of Elohim. I know I do.
It’s time for a change. Be sure to do your devotions and study every morning. Then try to minimize your time on electronics and media. Pray to Hashem throughout the day. Love others more than yourself. By doing all these things, I believe those “idols” in our lives will disappear slowly. We must try. He has commanded us to do so.
Reading #6 - Exodus 19:20–20:14
19:20 Hashem came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain. Hashem called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.
21 Hashem said to Moses, “Go down, warn the people, lest they break through to Hashem to gaze, and many of them perish. 22 Let the priests also, who come near to Hashem, sanctify themselves, lest Hashem break out on them.”
23 Moses said to Hashem, “The people can’t come up to Mount Sinai, for you warned us, saying, ‘Set bounds around the mountain, and sanctify it.’”
24 Hashem said to him, “Go down! You shall bring Aaron up with you, but don’t let the priests and the people break through to come up to Hashem, lest He break out against them.”
25 So Moses went down to the people, and told them.
20 Elohim spoke all these words, saying, 2 “I am Hashem your Elohim, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
3 “You shall have no other gods before Me.
4 “You shall not make for yourselves an idol, nor any image of anything that is in the heavens above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: 5 you shall not bow yourself down to them, nor serve them, for I, Hashem your Elohim, am a jealous Elohim, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and on the fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 and showing loving kindness to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.
7 “You shall not misuse the name of Hashem your Elohim, for Hashem will not hold him guiltless who misuses His name.
8 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 You shall labor six days, and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to Hashem your Elohim. You shall not do any work in it, you, nor your son, nor your daughter, your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your livestock, nor your stranger who is within your gates; 11 for in six days Hashem made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day; therefore Hashem blessed the Sabbath day, and made it holy.
12 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land which Hashem your Elohim gives you.
13 “You shall not murder.
14 “You shall not commit adultery.
