The Pulpit Commentary — Exodus — Volume 2 — Section 84

there is an utter absence of pride and hauteur, and a painstaking dcsiro to put Jethro--a plain wilderness priest-as fully a.s possible at his ease. Everything is real. The greetings of the friends are unaffectedly cordial-their behaviour towards each other studiously polite. Lesson-the duty of courtesy. Courtesy is an essential part of what has been defined as the outward grace of life. "By the grace of life is meant all that embellishes, softens, and brightens our present existence. lt is that which is to human life what the shape and bloom and odour are to the plant. The flower is not simply useful. It is pleasing. •.rhere is grace about it. . . . The grace of life has its simplest manifestation in our external beha"l'iour-in our manners. There is a joy to observed and observer in graceful motion and pleasant phrase. . . . Politeness is the science and art of the outward grace of life. It enunciates that strange code of salutations and farewells-those buffers which soften approach, and with a last gentle touch make parting easy. Under the fiction of giving information as to the weather, one spirit expresses to its fellow respect and continued friendship. That spirit, in turn, under the form of confirming the afore- said meteorological intelligence, reciprocates the kindly feeling. In such queer fashion is human kindliness flashed from heart to heart." (Rev. David Burns.) 2. TMir affectwnate interest in each other's welfare. "They asked each other of their welfare" (ver. 7). Burdened as he was, almost beyond endurance, with "the cumbrance, and burden, and strife " (Deut. x. 12) of the congregation, Moses could unbend to show his kindly interest in what was taking place in the quiet tents at Midian. This is a point of greatness. The greatest man is not he who occupies su serene an elevation of spirit, or whose mind is so engrossed with the duties of an exalted station, that he cannot stoop to share in, and, as occasion offers, to testify his sympathy with, the joys and sorrows of humbler people. No deficiency of this kind is seen in Moses-or in Jesus. It is well to cultivate the habit of putting ourselves in the place of others, however remote in station from ourselves, and of trying to feel a kindly interest in all that concerns them. This will prevent us from becoming self-absorbed and egoistic. Their lives, we should remember, are of as much importance to them as ours are to us, and the interest we show in them will be proportionately valued. A minister once wrote in his note-book : "Don't pretend an interest in the members of your congregation, but try to/eel it." "Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love" (Rom. xii. 10). 3. The theme of their converse. "Moses told his father-in-law (brother-in-law) all that the Lord had done to Pharaoh," etc. (ver. 8). As under a former head we had a model meeting, so here we have a model conversation. Jethro and Moses conversed on the affairs of Gro's kingdom. No greater subject could have occupied their thoughts. It is the subject of deepest and most central interest in history-the ~rand.est in its essential nature, the widest. in its relations, the most momentous in its issues. All other movements in time are side issues as compared with this one. 1n considering it man passes out of sight, and the only question is, What bath God wrought! (Num. xxiii. 23). We renew this conversation of Jethro and Moses every time we "speak of -i;he glory of (God's) kingdom and talk of (his) powe~" (Ps. cxlv. 11). Cf. the conversation of Christian with Prudence, Piety, and Charity Ill the House Beautiful:-" Now the table was furnished with fat things, and wine that was well refined; and all their talk at the table was about the Lord of the Hill ; as, namely, about what he had done, and wherefore he did what he did," etc. (Pilgrim's Progress.) Converse in heaven will turn on the same themes. Note-(1) It is profit- able for Christians to exchange experiences as to the manner of the Lord's dealings with them. Few but can tell something of" the travail that has come upon them by the way, and how the Lord delivered them." (2) It is a mark of grace to feel an interest iu what relate6 to God's work, and to the progress of his kingdom at home and abroad. ThiB will show itself in a desire to read, hear, and converse on such subjects, and in the interest discovered. and zeal shown, in the general work of the Church, in special spiritual movements, in the success of missions, in spiritual operations in our own town and neighbourhood. (3) Some are oalled to more a.ctive service in God's work than other~. There are those that fight the battle, and there are those who tarry at holl:1e and divide the spoil (Ps. lxviii. 12). And those who have been personally engaged Ill God's work-specially those who have returned from the high places of the field (missionaries, etc.)-have always much to tell which it is of interest lo hear, and which will enk.indle our hearts with new ardour in the cause of the Gospel. We should seek cu. xvm. 1-5.] THE BOOK OF EXODUS. 87