Why Did God Save Israel and Now the Nations?

06 Feb 2026

Yitro "Jethro"

TORAH: Exodus 18:1-20:23 | PROPHETS: Isaiah 6:1-7:6, 9:5-6 | GOSPEL: Matthew 19:16-26

Yitro (Jethro) in Hebrew means “one who added” The portion begins with Jethro visiting Moses and offering wise counsel, and then moves directly into Exodus 19 and 20, where we encounter why God saved Israel:

“I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself.”

Israel was commanded to consecrate themselves, for God’s presence would descend upon the mountain. The sound of the shofar was so powerful that, as the book of Hebrews says, it

“shook the earth.”

This Mount Sinai experience represents God’s betrothal to Israel, sealed through what we know as the Ten Commandments. They looked forward to the full consummation of this marriage after possessing the land through many battles. As David united the land and the people, and Solomon prepared the house (the Temple), the marriage was established—foreshadowing the Messianic reign.

As we know, however, this did not unfold as hoped. Even from the beginning we read that Moses went up—he made aliyah, ascending Sinai to meet God—yet tragically, Israel stood afar off.

Has the Church become like Israel of old—betrothed, yet content to stand at a distance? In the end, that generation never entered the land.

Let us choose, like Moses, to draw near into the presence of God—casting off idolatry and entering into full covenant. This New Covenant is a better way, not made like the old—written on stone, reflecting hardened hearts—but made new through the blood of Yeshua.

He is jealous for His people to the point of death, in order to bring them back to Himself.

Listen to the heart of God for Israel and the Nations through these passages, as He prepares to bring His people to Himself as one pure bride—not at Mount Sinai, but at Mount Zion, Jerusalem:

Zechariah 8:1–3

“Thus says the Lord of hosts: I am jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I am jealous for her with great wrath. Thus says the Lord: I have returned to Zion and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem, and Jerusalem shall be called the Faithful City, and the mountain of the Lord of hosts, the Holy Mountain.”

Revelation 21:1–3

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God.’”

Let us prepare and cleanse ourselves for the loud shofar blast that will announce the Bridegroom’s return as He will bring His bride to Himself.

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NEXT PORTION 13 Feb 2026 Mishpatim "Judgements"

TORAH: Exodus 21:1-24:18 | PROPHETS: 2 Kings 12:1–17 | GOSPEL: Matthew 17:22-27