the society of such, and take the opportunity of hearing them when they are to be heard that we may be instructed and profited. What a thrilling history, e.g., is that of Christian missions, but what an additional interest it gives to its narrations when we hear the story from the lips of the men who have actually fought the battles I (4) Christian workers cannot converse together on the plans, methods, difficulties, conflicts, and successes of their work without being mutually helped and edified. 4. Jethro's joy in the relation (vers. 9-11). We are reminded of Barnabas, who, "when he came" to Antioch, " and had seen the grace of God, was glad. . . . For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith " (Acts xi. 23). The history which Moses gave to Jethro-(!) Filled Jethro with joy; (2) Strengthened his faith in God-" Now l know that the Lord is greater than all gods" (ver. 11); (3) Incited him to praise-" And Jethro said, Blessed be the Lord," etc. (ver. 10). It will be observed how distinctly in ver. 11 Jethro seizes the point in the contest between Jehovah and Pharaoh, and draws the proper inference from it. God had chosen as a field for the display of his perfections a case in which all the pride and power of man were arrayed against him in a determined effort to resist, oppose, and make void his will, and he had demonstrated his supremacy by completely annihilating that opposition, and overwhelming the Egyptians, who em- bodied it, in the Hed Sea. The army of Egypt was in some sense the country's pride and boast, so that (though the translation in ver. 11 is apparently incorrect) it was literally true that "in the thing wherein they dealt proudly" Jehovah was "above them." God exalts himself by discomfiting his enemies in what they deem their points of special strength. "Poor perfection which one sees an end of! yet such are all those things in this world which pass for perfections. David, in his time, had seen Goliath, the strongest, overcome; Asahel, the swiftest, overtaken; Ahithophel, the wisest, befooled; Absalom, the fairest, deformed" (M. Henry on Ps. ex.ix. 96). "It is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent" (1 Cor. i. 19). 5. The sacrificial feast (ver. 16). We have here-(1) Friendship cemented by an act of worship; (2) Religious converse culminating in devotion; (3) A feast sanctified by the enjoyment of the Divine presence-" before God;" ( 4) A foreshadowing of the union of Jews and Gentiles in the fellowship of the church; (5) An instance of catholicity in worship. Moses did not scruple to join in sacrifice or to sit down at the same festival board with the Midianitish Jethro. 'l'he lesson is thus enunciated by Peter: "Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons; but in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteollimcss, is accepted with him" (Acts x. 34, 35).-J. 0. - Vera. l-5.-The claims of home. "And Jethro, Moses' kinsman (not father-in-law) came with his sons and his wife unto Moses into the wilderness. where he encamped at the mount of God" (Ex. xviii. 5). I. Cmculi:STANCES MAY JUSTIFY THE TEMPORARY REMISSION OF HOME RESPO~SI- lllLITIES UPON OTHERS (ver. 2). For example-and the history of Moses will illustrate each poi.nt--we may be justified by-1. Tl,e natm·e of external duty. We may be providentially called away from home; or the discharge of public responsibilities may for the time be incompatible with our usual attention to the interests of the domestic circle, e.g., Moses going to Egypt (Ex. iv. compare with Ex. xviii. 2). 2. The probability of danger. 3. Defective sympathy. It is clear that Zipporah was not in sympathy with the religious object of Moses, nor yet with his specific mbsion. Need, however, to be on our guard against making this a reason for withdrawal JJCrmanently from home responsibility. Want of perfect compatibility in domestic life makes marriage to be an occasion for self-discipline, and is thus converted into a means uf grace. (Eph. v. 25---27.) II. CIRCUMS'l'ANCES SCARCELY EVER JUSTIFY THE PERMANENT REMISSION. There are a few cases, perhaps, in which this resj)Onsil>ility may be devolveJ: e.g., the case uf the missionary who must, for various reasons, send home from his station his children to be educated; and not seldom the wife with them. Uther cases there arc, uo doubt. llut generally the father may not devolve this obligation. 1t is one-1. Uf uecessity. No one else can weet the resJJonsibility as the natural head of the family-this is true in all cases--even in that of the missionary named above-fur the ehil,lren suu·rr. '.:!. U/ duty :---(1) 'l'o ourselves. We owe it to our own convictions of trnth, "" :.: 88 THE BOOK OF EXODUS. [cH. xvm. 1-12.
thought, life, and work, to perpetuate them. (2) To dependents. Whether wife, d1ildrer., or servants. [On this point some valuable suggestions in Dr. Taylor's "Moses the Lawgiver," pp. 173-li6.J (3) To our gene,·ation; and (4) to the Ureat :Father in heaven. Ill. IF TEMPTl>:D TO THIS REMISSION GoD WILL BRING HOME TO US OUR DUTY. Probably by some providence, may be painful or otherwise. At such a time, on such an occasion (Moses face to face with Sinai and the giving of the law) in such a place, Jethro re-introduced to Moses wife and children. Even such duties as his could not exempt him from domestic responsibility.-R.
Vers. 1-12.-The Consolations of those who suffer loss for the Kingdom of God. l. THE REUNION OF THE SEPARATED. To Moses, who had to leave behind him wife and children because God's errand would brook no delay, these are now restored. 1. There is no loss to those who suffer for the kingdom of God's sake. 2. God fills the cup of his servants with consolations. God's care had been exercised not only over him in Egypt, but also over wife and children in Midian. II. THi: THEME OF THOSE WHO FEAR GoD. God's marvellous works (vers. 8, 9). It was not the subject of public discourse or formal greeting, but of private converse within "the tent." This is a mark of the true servant of God; to him God and his goodness are the most real and wondrous of all things. III. THE RESULT OF THE TESTIM0!IY. 1. Jethro's confession of Jehovah. 2. His sacrifice to him. The stranger makes a feast before Israel's God for the princes of Israel Those whom we bring to God make a feast, in their faith and love, for our soul before the Lord.-U.