The greatness of Yaakov Avinu was that he was a twin to Eisav HaRasha (and some say he was identical. Medrash). The Sefer Sidduro Shel Shabbos says that Yaakov was similar to Dovid who had an unusual Yetzer Hara (Dovid was born in: מַזָל מַאֲדִּים the “red Mazal”, which causes a person to have a red, bloodthirsty nature). Yaakov is the: בְחִּיר שֶבְאָבוֹת greatest of all three Avos! Yisro is called: פּוּטִּיאֵל Putiel, and Rashi says that this name comes from the fact that in his past: שֶהָיָה מְפַטֵם עַגָלִּים לַעַבוֹדָה זָרָה he would fatten calves in order to bring them as a Korban for Avoda Zara. Chazal say that it is: אוֹנָאַת דְבָרִּים Ona’as Devarim (a sin of hurtful speech) to remind a Baal Teshuva about his past sins.
So why does the Torah give Yisro such a name that reminds him of his evil past in having a lust for Avoda Zara? We can suggest that sometimes it’s just the opposite. The greatness of Yisro was that he rose from such a background and became a Tzaddik. A Yungerman from Eretz Yisroel complained how his chavrusa has so much more success with his Mishpacha, and his Chashuva position, etc. He told me that he’s working on being a: לֵב שֶשָמַח בִּגְדוּלַת אָחִּיו heart that rejoices with his brother’s greatness, but he’s still finding it hard...
