2. Yitro - יתרו : "Yitro"
Torah: Ex 18:1-20:23 (20:26 KJV) Haftarah: Is 6:1 - 7:6, 9:5-6(9:7 KJV)
Brit Chadesha: Mt 5:17-33; He 12:18-24
Psalms: 17, 71, 119 (Yod)
Gospels: Matthew 13, 14, 15

3. Fun Facts about Yitro 17th of 54 portions 5th of 11 in Shemot.
Fun Facts about Yitro
17th of 54 portions
5th of 11 in Shemot
Written on 138 lines in a Torah
46th in length, it’s the smallest in Shemot
Yitro contains 17 of the 613 mitzvot; 3 positive and 14 prohibitions;
Yitro contains 17 of the 613 mitzvot; 3 positive and 14 prohibitions.
The portion discusses the problem of dealing with problems. It’s a real problem, trust me I know. Mostly it’s an ongoing problem because the world does not realize that the life we live is made up of the sum of our choices.
Most of the world would describe their lives as 99%, or more, mundane—full of natural everyday things, and a teeny tiny portion counts as wondrous, miraculous experiences.
When we surrender the control we THINK we have to the ONE who really is in control, it is the beginning of wisdom, as it tells us in Psalm 111:
“Praise ye the Lord. I will praise the Lord with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation.
2The works of the Lord are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein. 3His work is honourable and glorious: and his righteousness endureth for ever. 4He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: the Lord is gracious and full of compassion. 5He hath given meat unto them that fear him: he will ever be mindful of his covenant.
(continued on next slide)

4. Fun Facts about Yitro 17th of 54 portions 5th of 11 in Shemot.
Fun Facts about Yitro
17th of 54 portions
5th of 11 in Shemot
Written on 138 lines in a Torah
46th in length, it’s the smallest in Shemot
Yitro contains 17 of the 613 mitzvot; 3 positive and 14 prohibitions;
(continued from previous slide)
6He hath shewed his people the power of his works, that he may give them the heritage of the heathen. 7The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure. 8They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness. 9He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name.
10The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.”
When we realize that the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, it is then that we realize that LIFE is made up of 100% amazing and wondrous things, that all come from God. We acknowledge this when we recite the most general of blessings. When we declare:
“Blessed art Thou, Lord our God, King of the universe, forever and ever…” we are saying that EVERYTHING that is, belongs to HIM because He says so…

5. How is the Haftarah like Yitro?.
How is the Haftarah like Yitro?
Isaiah 9:6-7, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, the everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
In this week’s Torah reading, Israel experienced the revelation of the Glory of the LORD at Mount Sinai during the giving of the Ten Commandments (or the 10 Words). The connection in the Haftarah is that the prophet Isaiah also gets to see the Shechinah when he has 2 prophetic visions—the last one entails Messiah’s reign.
Isaiah also saw a vision of YHVH and his heavenly throne surrounded by angels. The angels recite the famous "Kadosh, kadosh, kadosh," "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Hosts, His Glory fills the World!" The door posts of the Bait Hamikdash shook from the sound of the voices and the Temple was filled with smoke.
Then Isaiah says "I'm not worthy to see these things, because I am a man of unclean lips who lives amongst a people of unclean lips." What Isaiah was saying was "I'm not worthy for this job because I've spoken Loshon Hara and the nation of Israel speaks Loshon Hara." Isaiah was shown the Vision of YHVH's throne for three reasons:
(continued on next slide)

6. How is the Haftarah like Yitro?.
How is the Haftarah like Yitro?
Isaiah 9:6-7, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, the everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
(continued from previous slide)
to open Isaiah's mind so that he might commence to experience the infinite holiness of YHVH. If Isaiah could experience it, then he could begin to share it with other people. He would be able to share how great and awesome YHVH was.
Another reason YHVH wanted Isaiah to see the throne being lifting up and out from the Bait Hamikdash was the foretelling of the exile is about to happen.
An angel then touches Isaiah's lips with a hot coal and "removes" the sin of Loshon Hara. Then Isaiah hears YHVH's voice asking, "Whom shall I send to tell the people and Isaiah says, 'Send me!" YHVH then gives Isaiah. Yeshayahu is instructed to give a message to King Achaz of Judah. He was told that enemies will try to rise up against them however they will be unsuccessful.
The Haftorah concludes with our being told of the birth of a righteous King Yeshua, his eventual reign that would be capable of uniting the people of Israel to do teshuvah and bring on the Messianic period.
(continued on next slide)

7. How is the Haftarah like Yitro?.
How is the Haftarah like Yitro?
Isaiah 9:6-7, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, the everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
(continued from previous slide)
Isaiah's abbreviated Biography:
· Name means "Salvation of YHVH" · Wrote his own book 66, chapters long · Father was the prophet Amos · Was from a royal family and had access to the Beit Hamikdash. ( The Holy Temple) · He was born in the year 765BCE (8th century) about 2760 years ago (~800 years after the Exodus and ~800 years before Yeshua). · 25 years old when he had his first prophetic vision. · He is considered to be the 3rd greatest of all prophets, after Yeshua and then Moses. · 4 prophets lived in Isaiah's time - Hosea, Amos, Michah and Isaiah. · He survived 4 kings - Uzziah, Yotham , Ahaz, Hezkiah · He lived 120 years · Isaiah said he saw a "vision" of f YHVH's throne. · He had one wife and two sons. · He was killed by Menasheh the King of Judah. · He predicted Israel's demise

8. Which came first: Yitro’s visit or receiving the Torah at Mt Sinai?.
Which came first: Yitro’s visit or receiving the Torah at Mt Sinai?
Exodus 18:1, “When Yitro, the priest of Midian, Moses' father in law, heard of all that God had done for Moses, and for Israel his people, and that the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt;”
The straight reading of this portion indicates that Yitro heard about the Crossing of the Sea and of the battle with Amalek. These are the events recorded in the previous portion.
Other commentaries point to certain textual references about Sinai and therefore, many sages are of the opinion that Yitro chronologically came after the receiving of the Torah on Mt. Sinai (Matan Torah). The People remained camped near Sinai almost one year, placing this event sometime during that stay.
If this is so, then we have an example establishing that "there is no set order in the Torah's account of what happened” and we can add the events of Sinai to the list of what Yitro "heard and came". Of course, when the Word does not follow chronological sequence, there are reasons... and sometimes we get insight into what those reasons might be and sometimes we have to wait for it to be revealed.

9. Why is this portion named for a former pagan priest?.
Why is this portion named for a former pagan priest?
Exodus 18:21, “Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, 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:”
Why is the Torah portion that deals with the celebrated subject of the giving of the Law, named after a former Midianite priest? There are no accidents here. YHVH surely knows this and has a reason for letting it fall this way!
In this Torah portion, Yitro at first seems to be the almost irrelevant opening act for one of God's greatest performances! But Yitro belongs here. He and Moses are joined by both family obligations and mutual trust.
Yitro sheltered Moses for many years and had given him his daughter Zipporah in marriage. When God commands Moses to return to Egypt and redeem his people, Yitro not only releases his son-in-law from Moses' obligation to work for him but also blesses the God-directed purpose of his journey. Thus the family of Yitro plays an important part in the divine plan. But the final display of Yitro's allegiance occurs here, in the Torah portion named for him.
Upon hearing of the miraculous deliverance of Israel from Egypt, Yitro travels with Zipporah her sons to meet Moses in the wilderness. With the dust of the long journey still on his clothes, he asks to hear the glorious news of Israel's deliverance from slavery. And then Yitro does two things that the sages say mark him as a righteous proselyte (continued on next slide)

10. Why is this portion named for a former pagan priest?.
Why is this portion named for a former pagan priest?
Exodus 18:21, “Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, 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:”
(continued from previous slide)
First, he raises his voice in heartfelt prayer to the God of Israel: "Blessed be God, who has delivered you from the Egyptians and from Pharaoh....Now I know that God is greater than all gods." (Exodus 18:10-11) Yitro, the former priest of Midian, is the first to offer a benediction and a sacrifice to God for the rescue of God's people. Neither Moshe nor Aaron nor any of B’nei Yisrael had thought to bless God until Yitro came along. (ref: Sanhedrin 94a)
Second, Yitro is the first to see beyond the heroic public role of Moses and notice that his son-in-law is weary to the bone. It takes friend of many years to see that Moshe’s strength is faltering under the tremendous burden and responsibility of leadership: "And Moses' father-in-law said to him: 'The thing that you are doing is not right; you will surely wear yourself out and these people as well. For the task is too heavy for you; you cannot do it alone.'" (Exodus 18:17-18)
But Yitro does not merely commiserate with Moses, he offers advice and a plan: Moses must learn to delegate responsibility and conserve his strength for the important matters that only he can address. In order to accomplish this, he must trust the wisdom of his tribal leaders (continued on next slide)

11. Why is this portion named for a former pagan priest?.
Why is this portion named for a former pagan priest?
Exodus 18:21, “Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, 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:”
(continued from previous slide)
In some ways, Yitro's advice also prepares Moses to implement God's commandments by offering solutions to logistical realities:
How will Moses share the Law with the community?
How can he insure that it is understood by every individual?
How can he promote the application of God's commandments in the daily life of the people? How can he encourage their accountability to God?
After Moses put Yitro's plan into effect, he "bade his father-in-law farewell, and he [Yitro] went his way to his own land." (Exodus 18:27) The famous Rashi taught that Yitro left for Midian, intending to convert the members of his own family to Judaism.
So, this appears to be an organizational plan that is still used by well run communities. Brenda and I call that plan “full body ministry.” It has always been our desire to raise up a community that is vibrant and strong. There is work to be done, the question is:
Are you going to be involved in the work as part of the solution?
Are you going to be part of uh, …well, what’s left over? If you’re not part of the solution, then what’s left to be a part of?

12. Why was the Torah received in the desert wilderness?.
Why was the Torah received in the desert wilderness?
Exodus 19:5, “Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:”
If Torah were given in the Land of Israel, the residents of the Land of Israel would say, "It is ours"; and if it were given in some other place, the residents of that place would say, "It is ours." Therefore it was given in the “ownerless desert wilderness” so that anyone who wishes to acquire it may acquire it. There are likely other reasons:
To teach us, that just as a desert is endless, so is the Torah without end.
It was given in the wild to bring civility where there had been none. In other words, to tame it.
Another lesson from the borderless wilderness is that true mastery of Torah requires unmistakable commitment and sacrifice. In the words of the Midrash, “Whoever does not abandon himself like a desert, cannot fully acquire Torah.” This means that one ignors any limits on one’s capacity. In every domain there are boundaries which outline how far one should go. Halt! the boundary says, you have reached your limits; you cannot go on. It means that one pursues his goal with a single-minded intensity, uninhibited by external powers-that-be or by one’s own limitations.
By sheer volume, one is “not expected” to overcome a wilderness experience; it will always be what it is: vast and empty. With Yeshua, who is the Living Torah, you will find the Promised Land.

13. What is the significance of the 3rd day?.
What is the significance of the 3rd day?
Exodus 19:10-11, “And the Lord said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them to day and to morrow, and let them wash their clothes, 11And be ready against the third day: for the third day the Lord will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai.”
Who can name significant 3rd day references (candy anyone?):
God created Adam on the 3rd day.
Jonah was in the whale until after the 3rd day.
Abraham and Isaac traveled 3 days to Mt Moriah (the akedah)
Josef, the Viceroy, held his brothers 3 days before he let all but Shimon return to Canaan until Josef saw Benjamin
B’nei Yisrael prepared 3 days for the receiving of the Torah
Yeshua rose immediately after the 3rd day.
Be ready against the third day for Yeshua’s return to rule and reign
One Galilean scholar lectured (Talmud: Shabbat 88a) "Blessed be the Merciful One who gave a three-fold Torah (Torah, Prophets, Writings) to a three-fold people (Kohanim, Levites, Israelites) through Moses (a 3rd born child) who prepared 3 days to receive Torah in the third month.”
Another interesting Torah association with the number "3" is that the ultimate function of Torah is "to make peace in the world" and "3" represents the concept of peace. Peace is unity in diversity.
This is the Torah’s function: to introduce a unity of purpose to a diverse creation, uniting all to serve the divine objective in creation.

14. Aseret HaDebarim – the 10 Words.
Aseret HaDebarim – the 10 Words
I AM the LORD your God
Ex 20:2
You shall have no other gods
Ex 20:3-6
Do not take the NAME in vain
Ex 20:7
Remember the Shabbat
Ex 20:8-11
Honor your Father and Mother
Ex 20:12
You shall not murder
Ex 20:13
You shall not commit adultery
Ex 20:14
You shall not steal
Ex 20:15
You shall not bear false witness
Ex 20:16
You shall not yearn for things
Ex 20:17
As Moses is about to climb Mount Sinai, the Israelites gather at its base to receive the Ten Commandments.
Interestingly enough, they have not yet heard what those commandments will be!
Nevertheless, they make a commitment to obey God’s word: “All that the Eternal has spoken we will do!” (Exodus 19:8).
I like to think of the Ten Words as a ketubah, a marriage contract. God and Moses both knew that the Children of Israel needed a document, that stated the expectations of the contract for the people and pointed them toward their destiny. It had to be a stated broadly enough to encompass a variety of interpretations, yet compelling enough to be shared by everyone.
The Ten Words formed B’nei Yisrael—a dissimilar people with competing plans—into a unified nation with a shared purpose.
Whether we are talking about
a family
a business
even a sports team
we need to start with a definite goal in mind. (continued next slide)

15. Aseret HaDebarim – the 10 Words.
Aseret HaDebarim – the 10 Words
I AM the LORD your God
Ex 20:2
You shall have no other gods
Ex 20:3-6
Do not take the NAME in vain
Ex 20:7
Remember the Shabbat
Ex 20:8-11
Honor your Father and Mother
Ex 20:12
You shall not murder
Ex 20:13
You shall not commit adultery
Ex 20:14
You shall not steal
Ex 20:15
You shall not bear false witness
Ex 20:16
You shall not yearn for things
Ex 20:17
(continued from previous slide)
A family goal might be to have every child in the family graduate from college;
a business goal might be to double last year’s sales revenue;
a sports team’s goal, of course, is to win a championship trophy.
People who share our goals enter our communities (the analogy also works in the context of marriage); if they have other goals, they will leave our communities and go somewhere else. Having a shared purpose defines community.
At Mount Sinai the B’nei Yisrael have a shared purpose: to learn and to do God’s will. We share that purpose and that is what defines this community.
Have you emptied out the personal goals of the flesh? It cannot not be about our will. We must seek HIS will in all things.

16. .
Summary
Yitro hears of the great miracles and comes with Moses family to the wilderness
B’nei Yisrael camps opposite of Mt Sinai
YHVH chose us to be a “kingdom of priests” and “holy nation.”
7 weeks after the Exodus, YHVH takes His bride in marriage
They receive their Ketubah: Torah
Moses' father-in-law, Yitro, hears of the great miracles which YHVH performed for B’nei Yisrael, and comes from Midian to the Israelite camp, bringing with him Moses' wife and two sons. Yitro advises Moses to appoint a hierarchy of magistrates and judges to assist him in the task of governing and administering justice to the people.
The Children of Israel camp opposite Mount Sinai, where they are told that YHVH has chosen them to be His "kingdom of priests" and "holy nation." The people respond by proclaiming, "All that YHVH has spoken, we shall do."
On the sixth day of the third month (Sivan), seven weeks after the Exodus, the entire nation of Israel assembles at the foot of Mount Sinai. YHVH descends on the mountain amidst thunder, lightning, billows of smoke and the blast of the shofar, and summons Moses to ascend.
YHVH proclaims the Ten Words, commanding the people of Israel to believe in YHVH, not to worship idols or take HIS name in vain, to keep the Shabbat, honor their parents, & NOT to murder, commit adultery, steal, bear false witness or long for another's property. The people cry out to Moses that the experience is too much for them, begging him to receive the Torah from YHVH and teach it to them.