As we can see from the meaning of Jethro's name, he represents a remnant, or a large number of people who are in addition to Israel. Midian, of which Jethro was a priest, worshipped several gods, some of whom they had in common with the Moabites, including Baal-Peor and Ashtoreth. They also had knowledge of Yahweh, the God of Israel, but worshipped Him along with those other gods. It was likely that they were an uncircumcised people because Jethro's daughter, Zipporah, who was the wife of Moses, had contempt for circumcision. (see Ex. 4:24-26). The Midianites descended from one of Abraham's sons, Midian, by his second wife, Keturah. (see Gen. 25:1-5).
Jethro came to Moses in the wilderness to hear for himself all that God had done for the Israelites: "So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, bowed down, and kissed him...And 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 come upon them on the way, and how the LORD had delivered them. Then Jethro rejoiced (hada - rejoice, be gladdened, joined) for all the good which the LORD had done for Israel, whom he had delivered out of the hand of the Egyptians. And Jethro said, 'Blessed be the LORD, who has delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians... Now I know that the LORD is greater than all the gods; for in the very thing in which they (the gods of Egypt) behaved proudly (zud - act presumptuously, act rebelliously, be arrogant, act insolently, to seethe, boil up, violence, fierceness, overflow of boiling water), He was above them." (Ex. 18:7-11). Jethro now knew that the God is the Israelites, Yahweh, is not just a part of a mixture of many gods but is above all other gods, and he rejoiced in the knowledge. Jethro then offered burnt offerings and other offerings to the LORD. (v. 12). Afterwards all of the elders of Israel broke bread together with Jethro before God. Jethro was no longer just in a family relationship with Moses but had become a spiritual brother to Moses and all of Israel through his belief in the LORD. The LORD immediately began to move through Jethro to provide Moses with wise counsel: "So Moses heeded the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said." (v. 24). Jethro fulfilled the meaning of his name by being a joining tent cord or rope representing a remnant.
This is a beautiful example of how the LORD has an abundant remnant of people whom He grafts into the root of Israel. Those who are Gentile believers in Christ, have, like Jethro, become grafted into the holy root through faith. (see Rom. 11:17-18).
It is also a sad part of this Sabbath reading portion that the people of Israel chose religion over relationship regarding the LORD. In the third month after they had departed from Egypt: "...they came to the Wilderness of Sinai. For they had departed from Rephidim (repidim/repida/rapad - resting places, props, supports/support/to spread a bed, refresh, comfort, aid, prop up, protection, guard), had come to the Wilderness of Sinai (sinay - "thorny'), and camped in the wilderness. So Israel camped there before the mountain (meaning Mount Sinai)." (Ex. 19:1-2). From a resting place, Rephidim, where the LORD had defeated the attacking Amalekites on their behalf by "propping up" the arms of Moses, the people had now come into a "thorny" place. We will see the challenge that faced them.
The LORD called Moses to the mountain and commanded him to tell the house of Jacob and the children of Israel of His intentions towards them. This was His message: "You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to Myself. Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation." (Ex. 19:3-6).
The people were then commanded to consecrate themselves and come to the base of the mountain on the third day. When that day came, there were thunderings, lightnings, thick clouds and the sound of a very loud trumpet, "so that all the people who were in the camp trembled." (v. 16). The LORD descended onto Mount Sinai in fire so that the mountain smoked and quaked. (v. 18). By this display, the LORD would confirm His relationship to Moses as His prophet and the leader of His people. The LORD told Moses to warn the people not to gaze directly at Him. Moses told the LORD that He had previously said that the people were not to come up to Mount Sinai because it had been consecrated, and the LORD said to Moses: "Away! Get down (yarad - descend, sank, sink down, decline, take down, brought down, send down, go downwards to a lower region, cast down, fall down)..." (v. 21-24). As I read this language, I think that the LORD was angry with Moses' response. The LORD had called the people to the base of the mountain after three days of consecration. The LORD wanted Moses to warn the people not to look directly at Him, but Moses thought that the people should not come to the mountain. Moses instituted the first separation between God and the people. Did Moses really believe that God had forgotten what He had said previously that the people should not step on the mountain, or that God was trying to trick the people to their deaths? Of course He wasn't. The LORD had just stated His plans for the people of Israel, and they were plans of honor and holiness. These are the same plans that the LORD has for those who will come to Him today. (see 1 Pet. 2:9-10).
The LORD God, Who is Spirit, has also made a way for us and the whole world to gaze directly upon Him as He sent His Son in the flesh who said, "He who has seen Me has seen the Father." (see Jn. 14:9-11). Not only did God provide this way in order for us to see Him, but also in order to invite us to touch Him (see Jn. 20:26-28), as He also physically touched us, including those with leprosy (see Mt. 8:14-15, Mt. 9:27-31, Mk. 1:40-42, Mk. 7:31-35, Jn. 13:2-5). As our relationship with the Lord deepens, and with increasing understanding of these things, we do not lose reverence for Him, but we can only gain even more reverence, awe, and love for Him.
I never want to say or do anything that would increase the distance between man and God. We will see that God's intentions were to be with His people, to protect and provide for His people, to develop faith within His people, to cause His people to live.
The people of Israel completed their distancing from the LORD at that time when they said to Moses in great fear: "You speak with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die." (Ex. 20:19). This was certainly not the same response as Jethro's rejoicing above. Fear outside of reverence is a faith-killer. When God's angels encountered people while bringing to them the Word of the LORD, they always told the person, "Fear not."
Religion distances man from God, putting obstacles between man and God, while relationship draws man closer to God as the LORD removes all obstacles that keep His people from Him, including our own sins if we will receive Him.
From another reading portion from this Yitro Sabbath, the LORD reveals to His prophet, Isaiah, how He feels towards His people: "But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel: 'Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior....Since you were precious in My sight, you have been honored, and I have loved you; therefore I will give men for you, and people for your life. Fear not, for I am with you...Everyone who is called by My name, whom I have created for My glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him...I, even I, am the LORD, and besides Me there is no savior." (Isa. 43:1-11, excerpt).
A friend recently sent a video to me that was saddening and outrageous to us both. The video was of a church leader suggesting to his congregation that we Christians should leave the word "Savior" out of our vocabulary because it is offensive to some of other faiths or no faith. The Word of the LORD through His prophet, Isaiah, above, did not find the term "Savior" offensive but a saving truth for His people. Religion keeps man from God, and sets obstacles between man and God, while a relationship draws men to God. Anyone seeking and needing a Savior can find one in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, whose hands are outstretched. There is no other Savior, and no other name in heaven, on earth, or beneath the earth by which man may be saved except by the name of Jesus, Yeshua ("the LORD is salvation"), the Messiah/Christ. (see Acts 4:10-12). Don't let any man or woman, even one in clerical robes, keep you from a relationship with your Savior.
As Isaiah wrote, the LORD desires a loving relationship with His people whom He formed and whom He called by His own name. Religion will try to cause a separation rather than a unification with God, but a relationship with God is built upon His love for us, even before we knew or loved Him. Scripture says that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Scripture also says: "In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another." (1 Jn. 4:9-11). John also wrote that God sent His Spirit to us that we might live and remain in Him (1 Jn. 4:13). This is not religion, but relationship.
From another reading portion from this Sabbath, the LORD had brought back the Israelite captives from Babylon. The returning Israelites, under the leadership of Nehemiah and Ezra ("help, succor, assistance, one who helps") the scribe, had rebuilt the wall around Jerusalem. On the first day of the seventh month, which is the Feast of Trumpets or Yom Teruah, the people were gathered at the Water Gate and the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Book of the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Israel, was read to them by Ezra. (Neh. 8:1-6). When the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) people heard the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) words of the Book of the Law, they began to weep. Nehemiah, Ezra and the Levites explained the words that the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) people were hearing and said to them: "This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn nor weep...this day is holy to our LORD. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your strength...Be still, for the day is holy; do not be grieved.' And all the people went their way to eat and drink, to send portions and rejoice greatly, because they understood the words that were declared to them." (v. 9-11). The great rejoicing of the people was like the rejoicing of Jethro when he had heard the wonderful things that the LORD had done for Moses and the Israelites, and having shown Himself to be the God above all other gods.
Specific people are named in Neh. 8 in addition to the Levites who helped the people understand what they were hearing of the Book of the Law. (v. 7-8). Some of the names in Hebrew mentioned who brought understanding to the people are translated as meaning: "Jehovah (the LORD) is salvation", "repair/rebuild a house, obtain children and establish a family", "Sabbatical, restful, born on a Sabbath", "Jehovah is my majesty and splendor", "the (needle)work of Jehovah", Jehovah has helped, protected, and surrounded", "Jehovah has endowed or given", "He is merciful, gracious, with pity and favor", "Jehovah does wonders and extraordinary and marvelous work and has made distinguished", "joined to, attached, a garland, a crown".
The Hebrew meaning of Ezra's name as noted above reminds us of the function of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Jesus would later tell His disciples that the Holy Spirit would, as Ezra did, remind them of His words. (see Jn. 14:25-26).
Bringing the light of understanding of the Word of God restores relationship with God. As His children, the Word of the LORD can bring us to heartache and repentance as we see how we have fallen short of His desires for us, but it also restores us in love and brings us back to Him if we do not refuse Him. (see Isa. 65:2, Mt. 23:37/Lk. 13:34).
If you would like to know more about having a relationship with the only true God, His Son, and His Spirit, you can join me in my prayer: "Heavenly Father, You sent Your Son, Jesus, to be the Door that leads to relationship with You. In these current times, I am more in need of a relationship with You than ever before. I seek Your Face, Lord, and I seek Your heart. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit who draws me to You. Let all that I speak and do bear witness of my relationship with You, and keep me from discouraging anyone else from seeking a relationship with You. Help me to understand Your Word and use me to cause others to understand Your Word and rejoice in it. I ask this in the name of Jesus. AMEN."
*NOTE: aleph-tav written in Hebrew as אֶת, are the first and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet. The meaning of the two pictographic Hebrew letters can also be interpreted "Adonai (Lord) of the Cross/Covenant". In the New Testament, these letters are translated as Alpha and Omega written as ΑΩ , the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. These letters are those by which Jesus Christ identifies Himself in the Book of Revelation: see Rev. 1:8, Rev. 21:6, Rev. 22:13.
