Why "My Miracle?" Midrash tells us it’s because the miracle God wrought against Amalek wasn't just for Israel, but, in a way, for God too.
The Sages explain that as long as the Israelites are in sorrow, God feels their pain. Conversely, Israel's joy is God's joy. So, according to this way of thinking, the miraculous victory over Amalek, Israel's foe, was a victory for God, a moment of divine rejoicing, as well.
But the story doesn’t end there. As Proverbs 19:25 tells us, "Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware." The defeat of Amalek had a powerful effect on another key figure: Jethro.
You see, Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, wasn't always on the right side of history. According to the Rabbis, he was initially in cahoots with Amalek, both having incited Pharaoh against the Israelites. But witnessing Amalek’s utter defeat – losing not only this world but the next – brought Jethro to his senses. He repented. He famously declared, "There is nothing left to me but to go over to the God of Israel!"
Imagine this: Jethro, a man of immense wealth and honor, decides to leave it all behind and venture into the desert to find Moses and his God. He arrives at the Israelite camp, but he can't just walk in. The camp, according to the text here, was enveloped in a cloud that none could pierce. So, what does he do?
He writes a letter. But he doesn’t just hand it to a messenger. He shoots it into the camp with an arrow! Talk about making an entrance!
The letter, as recounted in Legends of the Jews based on various Midrashim, is quite poignant. He implores Moses, "I adjure thee, by thy two sons and by thy God, to come to meet me and receive me kindly. If thou wilt not do if for my sake, do it for thy wife's sake; and if thou wilt not do it for her sake, do it for thy sons' sake."
Why this emotional appeal? Because Jethro brought with him Zipporah, Moses’ wife, from whom he had been divorced. She also brought their two sons, her only children, because after separating from Moses, she had remained unmarried.
Think about the layers here. Jethro, the former adversary, now seeking redemption. Zipporah, returning with her sons. And Moses, faced with a complex family reunion amidst leading a nation. It’s a powerful reminder that even after great victories, life—and relationships—remain complicated, messy, and full of potential for growth and reconciliation. What do you think Moses did? What would you do?