What Did Yitro Hear? Free Will, Faith, and the Power of Human Choice

“And Yitro, the priest of Midian, Moshe’s father-in-law, heard all that God had done for Moshe and for Israel His people — that the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt” (Shemot 18).

Rashi, citing the Mechilta and the Talmud (Zevachim 116a), asks: “What report did he hear that made him come?” And answers: the splitting of the Sea of Reeds and the war with Amalek.

At first glance, this question seems unnecessary. The verse itself states clearly that Yitro heard “all that God had done… that the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt.” So what is the question — what report did he hear? And why did the Sages single out specifically the splitting of the sea and the war with Amalek as the decisive events?

What Truly Moved Yitro?

The deeper question is what was the earth-shaking report that caused Jethro’s final inner shift? The Talmud adds that Yitro not only came, but also converted. Yitro had been searching for truth for many years. He knew Moshe personally, had surely held many philosophical conversations with him, and was well aware of the Exodus. Still, none of that led him to a final decision.

What was the one report that triggered the decisive step — the journey into the wilderness and the request to convert?

The Sages answer: the splitting of the sea and the war with Amalek. Why these events in particular? Why weren’t all the miracles of the Exodus enough?

A similar question arises regarding the Israelites themselves. After the splitting of the sea, the Torah says: “The people feared the Lord, and they believed in the Lord and in Moshe His servant.” Why didn’t all the miracles in Egypt already bring them to this level of faith? Why only after the sea?

Partnership of Free Will

Following an idea found in the teachings of Rabbi Elimelech of Lizhensk, one of the founders of Chassidic thought, we can suggest the following insight: The Exodus from Egypt, in and of itself, was an event driven almost entirely by God alone — what Kabbalah refers to as itaruta d’le’eila, an awakening from Above. God acted, intervened, redeemed, and saved, without human initiative being a decisive factor.

By contrast, the splitting of the sea required human participation. The sea did not split until the Israelites began to walk into it, driven by absolute trust in God. This was itaruta d’letata, an awakening from below. When such awakening is accompanied by self-sacrifice, its power is immense — not only does it split seas, it also pierces the spiritual barriers of the human heart, including Yitro’s.

The same applies to the war with Amalek. Although the victory was miraculous, it was not a passive miracle. It was preceded by Yehoshua’s willingness to go out and fight a powerful and ruthless enemy — both militarily and spiritually, and by Israel’s spiritual preparation: “Israel subjected their hearts to their Father in Heaven,” as they watched Moshe’s hands raised upward.

The Power of Chosen Action

Acts that arise from human free will possess incomparable influence. In truth, the steering wheel of creation is placed in our hands — this is how God designed the world and why He created human beings with free choice. When we actively choose and lead through that choice, our actions have decisive impact.

Thus, the miracles of the splitting of the sea and the war with Amalek carried extraordinary force. Intellectual understanding or emotional inspiration alone was not enough to cause such upheaval, neither for Yitro nor for Israel. What made the difference was human devotion embedded within the miracle.

Self-sacrifice invested in action plants seeds that bear fruit.