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This week’s Torah portion Exodus 18:1-20:23 YITRO, the name of Moses father-in-law. In the KJV it is spelled, Jethro. There is no letter J in Hebrew, for this reason Yehoshuha’s name is misspelled as Jesus.
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Exodus 18:1 When Jethro (Yitro), the priest of Midian, Moses' father-in-law, heard of all that G-d had done for Moses, and for Israel his people, and that the L-RD had brought Israel out of Egypt;
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Even in those day’s good news traveled fast.
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Exodus 18:2 Then Jethro (Yitro), Moses' father in law, took Zipporah, Moses' wife, after he had sent her back, 3 And her two sons; of which the name of the one was Gershom; for he said, I have been an alien in a strange land: 4 And the name of the other was Eliezer; for the G-d of my father, said he, was mine help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh: 5 And Jethro (Yitro), Moses' father in law, came with his sons and his wife unto Moses into the wilderness, where he encamped at the mount of G-d: 6 And he said unto Moses, I thy father in law Jethro (Yitro) am come unto thee, and thy wife, and her two sons with her.
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Jethro (Yitro) kept watch over his daughter and two grandchildren while Moses was about his father’s (G-d’s) business.
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Exodus 18:7 And Moses went out to meet his father in law, and did obeisance, and kissed him; and they asked each other of their welfare; and they came into the tent.
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The custom of asking about each other’s welfare is Torah based and is more than a polite gesture.
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Breaking of bread, wine, and spices as well as verbal communication, and prayer is another Torah based practice among Hebrews at the end of the Sabbath to mark the beginning of a new week.
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The Apostles continued this practice to celebrate and welcome the new week, which starts on the first day of the week, which is Sunday. The Sabbath ends the previous week with a service called Havdalah.
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Acts 2:42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
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Judgment must begin at the house of G-d, 1 Peter 4:17
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The following scriptures introduce us to the order of judgment as it was introduced to Moses by his father-in-law. The Hebrew Apostolic Congregation takes this action very seriously as it is recommended by the Torah, and retold through the mouth of Yehoshuha, and the Apostles.
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Matthew 18:15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. 16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. 17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican. 18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
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Ephesians 4:8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. 9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) 11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
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1 Corinthians 12:28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? 30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? 31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet show I unto you a more excellent way.
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Moses discovered that Judgment is no easy job. Yitro let him know he needed help.
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Exodus 18:13 And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses sat to judge the people: and the people stood by Moses from the morning unto the evening. 14 And when Moses' father in law saw all that he did to the people, he said, What is this thing that thou doest to the people? why sittest thou thyself alone, and all the people stand by thee from morning unto even? 15 And Moses said unto his father in law, Because the people come unto me to inquire of G-d: 16 When they have a matter, they come unto me; and I judge between one and another, and I do make them know the statutes of G-d, and his laws. 17 And Moses' father in law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good. 18 Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone. 19 Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and G-d shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to G-d-ward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto G-d: 20 And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt show them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do. 21 Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear G-d, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens: 22 And let them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee. 23 If thou shalt do this thing, and G-d command thee so, then thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people shall also go to their place in peace. 24 So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father in law, and did all that he had said. 25 And Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. 26 And they judged the people at all seasons: the hard causes they brought unto Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves. 27 And Moses let his father in law depart; and he went his way into his own land.
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Romans 11:29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
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Keep in mind that the gifts mentioned above came from G-d. The callings of the deacons were selections based on the qualifications listed in the following verses:
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Acts 6:1-6 And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. 2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. 3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. 4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. 5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch: 6 Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.
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And now whatever you do have yourself a wonderful day! Dr Lennie Marx Shaliach
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