The Pulpit Commentary — Exodus — Volume 2 — Section 96

where in tbe earlier part of the book of N um here, and from it we looked back on all the mass of legislation in Exodus and Leviticus, it would read with far greater force? J. WE HAVE GOD'!! PF.OPLE PRESENTED TO US AB ABOUNDIN(l IN OCCASIONS OF DISPUTE AMONG THEMSELVES. This appears as a certain consequence of that spirit of self-seeking so manifest a.nd strong among them. The law from Sinai of course conflicted with many old a.nd honoured traditions. That law had been given to secure in the first place a nation devoted to the service of God; and in the second place the mutual prosperity of all the members of that nation. If only every Israelite had obeyed these laws from the heart, and entered into the spirit of them, then the prosperity of all would have been ensured. But as a matter of fact most part of the Israelites wanted to conform to the laws just so far as suited their convenience and no further. Laws were to be interpreted very strictly when such interpretations were for their advantage, and very loosely when the contrary. The disputes, misunderstandings, and lawsuits of society are a great reproach, and ought to be a. great humiliation. Think of all the machinery which is in daily operation through such a. land as England to secure, as far as may be, the doing of right between man and man. And yet thi~ machinery, expensive and elaborate as it is, works in a. very unsatisfactory way; indeed that which is meant to work justice very often works injustice, and certainly very seldom ensures the exact attainment of right, Hence, however pleased we a.re to look on J ethro's sug- gestions here, and see them carried out with a measure of success, we feel that they must not be suffered to hide an end more desirable still. Law reformers cry out, and with ample cause, for the adoption of such means as will secure a. cheap and speedy settlement of all disputes, But how much more would be gained if only there was a universal acceptance of the Gospel, with all its powers and principles! That Gospel puts into man a loving and unselfish heart and a spirit of brotherliness, which, if allowed fair play, would soon do away with litigation and all that leads to it. A world of Christians would be a simple-hearted, plain-living people, ever acting towa.rds one another in truth, kindness, and goodwill. Cheap justice is good; but the new heavens and the new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness, a.re much better. II. WE BEE MosEB DOING HIS BEST, BY INDrvIDUAL EFFOBT, TO RECONCILE A...-..0 SATISFY THESE DISPUTANTS. We get the impression of a man whose hands a.re full with his judicial work. When his own dear kinsfolk come in such a.ffecting and pressing circum- stances, he can only spa.re for them a brief interval; and a large pa.rt of that interval seems to have been occupied with religious exercises. With the morning light Moses sett.lea down to what he must have found a weary and discouraging work. Many a perjury, many an impudent claim, many a reckless slander, many a pitiful story of oppression and extortion he would have to listen to. It is the daily work of judges and magistrates to deal with the sea.my side of human nature, but then this is their business; they look for it, they get used to it, above all they a.re paid for it. Perhaps they would say, most of them, that it is no affair of theirs to ask too curiously whence all this disputing comes and how it is to be cured. 'l'hey a.re there to administer laws and not to make them. But Moses was more than a judge. He had not only to settle these disputes by the way, but also to guide the disputers towa.rds Canaan. We a.re per- fectly certain, too, that the great bulk of those against whom justice compelled him to decide would become his enemies. Yet he struggled on, accepting the responsibility, and trying to get the laws of God for Israel more and more accepted among the people. Ha indeed sets us, in this matter, a noble example. The pressure which was upon him will never rest upon us, for all men sought him; but we also have our limited opportunity, larger alas I than we seek to use, of advancing the things that make for peace. There :s so much to promote discord, so much to excite partisan spirit; there a.re so many to tear every rent wider, instead of putting in the little stitch in time that saves nine, that we mo.y well ask for grace, gentleness, fidelity, and impa.rtia.lity, in order to put in our intervening word when such a word mo.y be possible and acceptable. The more we think of all· that there is in this world acting, often alas! consciously and deliberately, to spite, separate, and irritate, the more let us determine to form part of a reuniting and cementing force. . III. NOTICE THE TIMELY PRIISENCE AND COUNSEL OF JETHRO. Truly there is appear- ance here of something unaccountable in the dealings of God. Such a seemingly 'mportant matter as the judicial system of Israel owes its existence to the 8t1ggestion ol H ~ 100 THE IlOOK OF EXODUS. [en. xvm. 13-20.