Torah Thought – Yitro, Exodus 18:1 – 20:23 - Treasured Inheritance Ministry ©

Overcome by the flu this week, I spent my time resting up and trying to get better. Having spent much time in bed, I had to go for therapy on my sore neck muscles which left them bruised and painful. So spare a thought for me this week and if you remember, please say a prayer as I recover. But while I was supine in the African heat with a fever, the Torah reading for this week kept on turning over in my spirit and I had to share this Torah Thought with you despite the flu! Praise Yeshua for we can do all things through Him!

This week’s reading marks a monumental occasion. An occasion that stands at the centre of Jewish belief and the Messianic conviction. Sanctified and pure, our forefathers stood at the bottom of Mount Sinai, and were ordered to maintain the boundary lines set in place by Moses. Yahweh Himself promised to descend on the mountain and meet with His people there, He promised to take them to Himself and to give them the treasured words of His covenant. The people were so afraid of their fiery, awesome Groom who stood on the mount, that Moses the humble servant had to stand as a mediator between them and their Beloved.

The theology of these chapters is well known and well quoted. Many Hebrew Roots or Messianic followers base their faith on this revelation at Mount Sinai and yet so many have misplaced the true meaning of these chapters. Yeshua shared with me the sad reality that faces His Lovers Heart every day, the sad reality of how people have chosen to die in their wilderness instead of drink from the Spiritual Rock of Himself.

Fixated on what was given at Mount Sinai, you have forgotten Who actually stood on Mount Sinai ready to give Himself. Fixated on the stone tablets which should now be on your heart, you have forgotten the One who appeared who wanted to change your heart with His Love. Instead of saying we received the Torah only at Mount Sinai, we should say we received the Groom also, the Beloved at Mount Sinai. My husband and I have a beautiful, hand painted Ketubah which we signed and read out on our wedding day. It stands as a centre piece in our lounge, in an expensive ornate frame. The vows we wrote on it ourselves, have had to guide our choices over the years. Our commitment and covenant of love, truth, fidelity, faithfulness, loyalty, and devotion has helped us love one another. Yet every day when I wake up, I don’t walk over to it and smile at it, gush over it, swoon over it. Rather, I go over to my husband whom I love with all my heart and I swoon over him and I want to hold his hand and look in to his eyes – I want him. My commitment is heartfelt, it’s within and my vows are just as important to me today as they were all those years ago. While vows guide our marriage, the relationship is our marriage.

Yeshua Messiah wants the same with us. He was the groom who appeared on Mount Sinai to a bride who was young and eager to please;

“Go and shout this message to Jerusalem.
This is what the LORD says: “I remember how eager you were to please me as a
young bride long ago, how you loved me and
followed me even through the barren wilderness.”
(Jeremiah 2:2)

This reality of love that happened at Mount Sinai reminded me of a story I heard at the Titanic Exhibition two months ago. It is the story of Ida and Isador Strauss, one of the wealthiest couples on board the ill – fated ship. Isador was the co – owner of the very famous Macy’s department store and his wife Ida, was someone he cherished, they were rarely ever apart from one another. On the night of the sinking, while the ship was being pulled beneath the waves, Isador led his wife to a lifeboat.

He tried to convince her to board the lifeboat on her own because men were not allowed to accompany their wives. However, Ida’s words are striking, she refused to board the raft without her husband “We have lived together for many years.” She said, “Where you go, I go.” Several other first- class passengers tried to convince Ida to board but she could not be swayed. Instead, she sent her newly employed maid, Ellen Bird, in her place, after first wrapping her in a fur as protection against the cold. The Strauses were last seen seated side by side on Titanic’s Boat Deck.

That true story struck me as a remarkable example of the love I want to have for Yeshua. It’s the k
ind of love He wants from all of us. Never once did He tell us to focus solely on what was given at Sinai, what was given should guide us but He wants us to focus on Who was given at Sinai, and who was given was our Groom. Friends, there is no substitute for true love, for deep intimacy and daily living with our King. There is no warmth in the word without Him, scientists study the Bible for hours trying to disprove it – all those years of study will never bring them in to the chamber of the King, because they are studying mere words, like so many do. Intimacy with the King, is a life of sacrifice, a life of grace and mercy, a life of commitment and faithfulness. Yeshua please help us love you the way You want us to, help us when we seek lesser things in place of Holy intimacy with our King. Help us drink and be quenched in our spirits, from the Fountain of Living Water and the Everlasting Spring. We repent of placing Your Word above You, we repent of placing what You gave us before You, for our hearts wholly seek after You, help us Father we pray! We love you!

Shavua Tov!

Torah Thought – Yitro, Exodus 18:1 – 20:23

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