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Yitro
Exodus
18:1-20:23
Isaiah
6:1-7:6; 9:5-6
Matthew
5:17-32
The Parashah
begins with "Now Yitro, the priest of Midian and father-in-law of Moses,
heard of everything G-d has done for Moses and for his people Israel, and
how the Lord had brought Israel
out of Egypt."
I once read
that one thing you can count on is that your father-in-law will give you
advice. After Moses brought Israel out of Egypt, Yitro brought Moses his
wife, Tzipporah, and his children, Gershom and Eliezer, into the desert on
the other side of the Sea of Reeds. While in the midst of the camp, Yitro
saw Moses serve as Judge for the people (verses 13-26). He saw that the
workload was much too heavy for Moses. The people waited hours to be heard
by Moses for his judgments and advice.
Yitro advised
that Moses appoint trustworthy subordinates to judge and settle less
difficult disputes, and he, Moses, should only judge the most difficult
cases. This way Moses would be able to have more time to bring the
people’s burden directly to G-d. He would be able to teach the people the
decrees and laws. He would have time to show them the way to live and the
duties they are to perform.
It does not
take a rocket scientist to realize that, "The fear of the Lord is the
beginning of Knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline." In the
book of Proverbs in chapter 13 verse 20, we are instructed that, "He who
walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm."
Sometimes an
outsider sees things that we do not while we go about doing our work.
Moses was working hard and did not see that he was wearing not only
himself but the people as well. In Exodus 18:19 and
18:23; Yitro suggested to Moses that he needed to seek G-d and set
his priorities right. He was to choose men who fear G-d, are honest, and
have righteous indignation against those who covet and commit willful sin.
As Moses
chose G-d fearers for leadership and to act as counselors and judges, we
too must choose wisely and always ask G-d for direction.
Shavua
Tov
Rabbi
Z.
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