Parashat Yitro
Exodus 18:1-20:23
"Love. Love. Love."
The parasha opens with Moshe hanging out with his father-in-law, Yitro, chief of the Midianites. Yitro is described as someone who is happy with all that God has given him. He offers sacrifices and acknowledges the power of this Adonai (Yud Hei Vav Hei) - the same Adonai that took the Israelites out of Egypt.
Moshe is beginning his role as the leader of the Israelites. The text tells us that he sits under a tree all day and night listening to and trying to solve the problems of the People. Yitro takes on the role of job coach and mentor to Moshe and guides him through a process of appointing judges. This is Moshe's first lesson around "work/life balance".
God lays out the steps for Moshe ascending and descending THE MOUTAIN/Mt. Sinai, gives him the first set of commandments to convey to the People, including; I am your God, Don't bow to other Gods etc…They go back and forth about where the People will stand while Moshe is on the the mountain. At a certain point, after Moshe has conveyed some of the commandments, reminded the People that God took them out of Egypt, they reply with those famous words "na'aseh v'nishmah", "we will do and we will listen". [Wouldn't it be nice if that's how everyone responded to whatever we said?]
This all seems pretty reasonable given everything that happened up until now - plagues, the splitting of the sea, etc… Adonai is establishing Himself as THE (one and only) God of the Israelites. They need rules. They need to feel safe. They need protection.
As the parasha comes to a close, God makes two comments that seem completely counter to what one would expect God to say, what God should say.
Chapter 20:5-6
First: God says "I…am a zealous God." Zealous, commonly translated as passionate, eager and enthusiastic. The Hebrew is "El kanah" which can also mean JEALOUS.
Second: God lets the People know that He will extend punishment on "...those who hate Me" for four generations.
Third: God lets the People know that He will extend kindness to thousands of generations in exchange for "those who love Me".
What's going on here? Is God admitting a flaw - jealousy? Is God admitting a need to be loved and a concern over the fact that some might hate Him? I am struck by the human condition being conveyed by God. Even the most confident, the most self assured and well liked person has moments of doubt and insecurity. But, God displaying these qualities is completely unexpected, especially after the events that unfolded in Egypt. Back there, God seemed to be all muscle, all about power and strength.
Here we are witness to a softer side of God, a side of that is vulnerable, effected by what others think of Him. In the Shema we pray, "You shall LOVE the Lord your God with all your heart, all your might and all your soul." Is one of the takeaways from this parasha that God needs love (the way people need love)?
How many of us actively love God? Typically we engage God when we need something - healing, comfort, strength etc…We just expect God to provide for us. What would it be like if we loved God the way we love the people we love? What would it look like to hug God? To stroke God's hair? To laugh with God until our bellies hurt? To forgive God?
Mekor Ha'chayiim, Source of Life, as we move into Shabbat may we take the time to show our love to You. May we reaffirm our connection to You, our appreciation and our commitment. [Feel free to substitute "You"(God) with "Universe", "Divine presence", "Energy", or whatever word or phrase that best reflects your belief and understanding of how all of this works.]
Shabbat shalom u'mevorach,
Laurie
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