Daily Verse: Exodus 3:1
Wednesday 18 Tevet 5783 (11.01.23)
Bring Sheep to God's Mountain
וּמֹשֶׁ֗ה הָיָ֥ה רֹעֶ֛ה אֶת־צֹ֛אן יִתְר֥וֹ חֹתְנ֖וֹ כֹּהֵ֣ן מִדְיָ֑ן וַיִּנְהַ֤ג אֶת־הַצֹּאן֙ אַחַ֣ר הַמִּדְבָּ֔ר וַיָּבֹ֛א אֶל־הַ֥ר הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים חֹרֵֽבָה׃
"So God examined the behavior of Moses, who was tending the sheep of his father-in-law Jether, who would later be known as Jethro, priest of Midian, and concluded that he would be suitable. For example, a kid once ran away from the flock and reached a shady place near a pool of water where it stopped to drink. Moses ran after it and, when he caught up with it, said: "I did not know that you ran away because you were thirsty. You must be tired." So he carried the kid back to the flock. God said: "Because you showed such mercy to a mortal man's flock, you will tend My flock, Israel." Moses typically guided the flock far into the desert so that they would not graze in other people's property, and, on one occasion, came to Mount Sinai, where God would eventually give the Torah; this mountain was also known as Mount Horeb."
Moses loved herding sheep, it gave him the peace and space to meditate and connect with HaShem. Although this job was actually below his status, caring for the animals in a difficult environment ensured that he was well prepared to become a great leader. As he cared for Jethro's flock now, he would soon care for HaShem's flock. Just as he now brought Laban's flock to Mount Sinai, so he would bring HaShem's flock to Mount Sinai.
Jethro's sheep came from an idolatrous background and Moses brought them to HaShem. Little sparks of divinity that could be brought back to HaShem.
And that is our task as Noahides. From our own idolatrous milieu, we must try to bring back to HaShem the little sparks of Divinity - the souls of those who have forgotten HaShem.
Sometimes our work seems thankless, the environment is harsh and ruthless. But whatever our desert may look like, it will make us stronger for the task HaShem has given us.
Sources: Kehut Chumahs Parshah Shemot
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.
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