Sunday 14 Shevat 5783 (05.02.23)
Moses and His Father-in-Law
וַיֵּצֵ֨א מֹשֶׁ֜ה לִקְרַ֣את חֹֽתְנ֗וֹ וַיִּשְׁתַּ֙חוּ֙ וַיִּשַּׁק־ל֔וֹ וַיִּשְׁאֲל֥וּ אִישׁ־לְרֵעֵ֖הוּ לְשָׁל֑וֹם וַיָּבֹ֖אוּ הָאֹֽהֱלָה׃
Moses went out to greet his father-in-law. When Aaron and his sons saw Moses go out, they followed him, and the rest of the people then followed suit. Jethro was thus accorded great honor. Moses prostrated himself and kissed Jethro, they asked about each other's welfare, and they went into the tent.
And Jethro Bowed...
Moses embodied Divine wisdom, wherea Jethro embodied natural, worldly, wisdom. The wisdom he had gained as he researched all the idols and worldly knowledge. Every time he thought he had found HaShem, he would doubt and continue to search these idols and worldly knowledge until he came to the conclusion that there was no doubt that HaShem is truly the One, Eternal G-d of heaven and earth. And he went to Moses and bowed down before him in recognition that Moses and the Jewish people had the truth, but....
Moses Bowed down before Jethro
...it does not say that, Moses bowed down before Jethro. By bowing to Jethro, Moses elevated natural wisdom and accepted it into the sphere of Divine wisdom.
People from other religious systems frequently ask, but what should I do with all the knowledge I have accumulated all my life. All the views I learned, all the dogmas that were vital?
People from other religious systems frequently ask, but what should I do with all the knowledge I have accumulated all my life. All the views I learned, all the dogmas that were vital?
Everything happens for a reason and the knowledge you have learned should now be used for HaShem. Because you know the other religious system so well, you also know how to express your current point of view in words that can be understood by others. Because you know their dogmas you also know why they are incorrect and how to explain it. The texts you know by heart and used to teach anti-Jewish knowledge and insights you can now use to explain and defend Jewish knowledge and insights.
What to do with Old Knowledge?
Although I have always felt a connection with the Jewish people, I came from a faith world that was the opposite in every way.
A small Christian sect that considered Paul almost even more important than J'sus. Yes the Jews who had to keep the Torah, but "we" especially did not. Everything I know now and everything I teach now is the exact opposite.
But everything I learned then I can use for good. One of my moments of victory will be when a book comes out (clifhanger) that will bear the name of the magazine from that time back then. The same name and a completely opposite message. That's how you use old knowledge on a new path of life.
Sources: Kehot Chumash Yitro
Angelique Sijbolts is one of the main writers for the NoahideAcademy.org website. She contributes for the admin of the website in English and Dutch. She teaches Hebrew to beginners and intermediate students at the Academy.
© Copyright, all rights reserved. If you enjoyed this article, we encourage you to distribute it further. NoahideAcademy.org's copyright policy.