Poem of Yitro
Yitro is an alternative spelling of Jethro, the father-in-law of Moshe.
Concerning Amalek, read Exodus 17:8–16.
Yitro was a flame waiting to be lit
Amalek was a dry stick attracting the flame
Hashem was a mighty hand crushing Egypt
A serpent, a stick, like Amalek,
crawled out into the desert to Yitro
"You see Hashem," the serpent said,
"At best, he is only first among equals
He is a powerful god among many gods of power
Today one is on top, tomorrow another
All of them proud to display their power"
Yitro had heard the news about Hashem in Egypt
He prayed to know Hashem
He flickered, but he did not flame
The argument of the serpent, like a wet stick
cooled the air around him, weakening his prayer
Then Israel came to the Red Sea
Yitro heard how Hashem gave his power to Israel
The feet of faith conquered the sea
The rod of Moshe split waters above the world
But the slithering wet stick still had Yitro's ear
"You see how Hashem dominates his people!
He makes them work like little angels
to show off his power
Yitro's prayer was stronger, his heart warmer
But still, his heart did not burst into flame
Then Amalek, that ancient serpent , came
Yitro knew it was the same stick by name
When Yitro heard about Israel's war with Amalek
Then his heart ignited; he became a flame
"Now I know," he said, "that Hashem is God,
the one and only in heaven and earth
For he put all his revelation at risk,
the revelation of his goodness and glory
All confidence he placed in the faith of a child
Though they wielded their faith through a sword,
and not yet through their word,
Hashem risked all for them,
not revealingly his power,
trusting their faith in him to silence the serpent
The nations saw Israel coming across the sea
and said, "They’re untouchable!"
"No!" Said Amalek, his hatred smoldering
“I will drink their water!
I will steal their fire!
I will show you they are touchable!"
"You will strike his heal," answered Hashem to him
"And he will crush your head!"
Yitro heard what the children of Israel did
How even the lame defeated Amalek through faith
And burning like a flame he said,
"I will go to serve Hashem with them,
For now I understand he invested all his revelation
in the obedience and learning of his children
who revere and love him