The Pulpit Commentary — Exodus — Volume 1 — Section 64

low consideration of self-indulgence, he might come to forsake if only brought faco to face with high considerati1ns of duty and love, and of conformity to the will of God 11.nd example of Christ. Everything we do ought to have a sufficient reason for it. Not that we are t-0 be in a pel')_Jetual fidget over minute scruples. But, being by nature so ignorant, and by training so bound-in ,vith base traditions, we cannot too often or too promptly ask ourselves whether we have indeed a sufficient reason for the chief prin- ciples, occupations and habits of life. 3. Notice that the question put to tl1e Hebrew wrong-doer m.i'.ght fu,St as well have been put t-0 the Egyptian. He also had been guilty of indefensible conduct, yet he as well as the other ,vas a man with powers of reflection, and the timely question, "Why smitest thou this Hebrew?" might have ma.de him consider that ren.lly he had no sufficient reason at all to smite him. We must not too readily assume that enemies will persist in enmity, if only we approach them in a friendly manner. He that would change an enemy into a friend must show himself friendly. 'l'he plan may not always be successful; but it is worth trying to conquer our foes by lo'l'e, patience and meekness. v,r e must ever strive to get the selfish people to think . their thinking powers and all the better pa.rt of their humanity only too often get_ crushed into a corner before the rush of pride, appetite and passion. IV. CoNSEDER THE RESULT OF THE REMONSTRANCE. The wrong-doer has no sufficient and justifying answer to give ; and so he tells Moses to his face that he is a mere meddler. When men are in a right course, a course of high and generous aims, they hail any opportunity of1Jresenting their conduct in a favourable aspect. But when they are doing wrong, then they make a pretence of asserting their independence and liberty in order that they may fight shy of awkward confessions. If we wait till we a.re never found fault with as meddlers we shall do very little to compose quarrels and redress injuries, to vindicate the innocent or deliver the oppressed. Men will listen to a general harangue against tyranny, injustice and selfishness. They will look at us with great admiration as long as we shoot our arrows in the air; but arrows are not meant w be shot in the air; they are meant, at the very least, to go right into the crowd of men, and sometimes to be directly and closely persona.1.-Y. Vers. 11-15.-Moses "was grown." According to the tradition he had already distinguished himself as a warrior-was " a prince and a judge" amongst the Egyptians, if not over the Hebrews (ver. 14). Learned., too, in all the wisdom of the day (cf. Acts vii. 22). At his age, forty years, with his influence, surely if ever he was to do anything for his people, now must be the time. Notice: I. Tm: H.A.sTY MISCALCULATION OF THE :MAN. 1. What he did, and why he did it. " It came into his heart to visit his brethren." In the seminaries of the priests, in the pa.lace, with the army, he had not forgotten his people ; but he had scarcely realised the bitterness of their trial. Now his heart burns within him as he looks upon their burdens. He feels that he is the appointed deliverer trained for this very purpose. What is so plain to him must, he thinks, be equally plain to others (Acts vii. 25). A chance encounter gives him the opportunity of declaring himself; defending a Hebrew, he kills an Egyptian. The supposition that his brethren will understand proves to be a great mistake : " they understood not." Moses did that which we are all too ready to do : took it for granted that other people would look at things from his standpoint. A man may be all that he thinks himself to be; but he will fail in accomplishing his designs if he makes their success depend upon other people tak!'"g him at his own estimate; there is an unsound premiss in his practical syllogism which will certainly vitiate the conclusion. What we 6hould do is to take pains to place ourselves at the standpoint of other people, and before assuming that they see what we see, make sure that at any rate we see what they see. Moses, the courtier, could see the weakness of the oppressor, and how little power he had if only his slaves should rise; the slaves, however, bowing beneath the tyranny, felt and exaggerated the tyrant's power-they could not see much hope from the a.id of this self~cons_tituted champion. 2. What followed from his deed. Life enda.~gered., COI1;1pulsor_y fhgh~, ,e. refuae amonaet shepherds in a strange land, forty years comparative solitude, life B prospects blighted through impatience. "More haste vrorse speed" is one of the ~orld 11 wise proverbial generalisations. Moses illustrates the proverb-forty year11' exile for an hour'6 hurry I 011, II, 11-15.] THE BOOK OF EXODUS.