The Pulpit Commentary — Exodus — Volume 2 — Section 97

an 0utsider. And yet it might have been thought that this was exactly one of the things which Jehovah would provide for by express enactments. When it is a matter of making the tabernacle, be is very particular as to measurements and materials but when it is a matter of judging causes, he leaves it to be determined by the advice ~fan apparently casual visitant to the camp. There is nothing really strange in aU this, if we remember that God only instructs us where we cannot make discoveries for ourselves. Revelation does not supersede, it rather assumes and requires the exercise of co=on sense and natural judgment. We find a somewhat parallel case to this in the New Testament when the deacons were appointed. Common sense told the apostles they were becoming burdened with work which did not properly belong to them, and only hindered them in the doing of work for which they were specially responsible; a~d so here the common sense of Jethro steps in to suggest to Moses a more excellent way. ·why did not Moses think of it himself? The very fact that he did not shed a great deal of light on his character. His strength lay not in personal initiation, but in com- plete waiting and dependence on God. If God had co=anded the institution of these rulers, he would very quickly have had the command in operation; but he never thought of proposing the plan himself. But when another proposes it, he can see at once that it is a wise, practicable, and necessary one. Moses is not to be blamed as wantina in sagacity in that he failed to see this remedy before. Great discoveries are s~ple enough when once they are made; and then everyone wonders they were not made long before. IV. OBSERVE THE DETAILS OF JETHRO's ADVICE. Not only does he suggest the obtaining of help from somewhere, but taking in the whole situation at a glance, he can suggest exactly the best thing to be done. Probably as a priest in Mid.ian he had seen a great many disputings and helped to some extent in the settlement of them. We cannot but feel as we read through the details of the counsel, that whatever may be lacking in Jethro's formal standing, he acquits himself as one who is really and oppor- tunely the messenger of God. He speaks as a good and true man ought to speak both for the relief of his kinsman and for the abiding good of the whole people. He judges that in Israel itself there are resources enough to meet the emergency, if only properly searched out and arranged. Given 600,000 men, surely among them there will be a fair proportion who have the qualities required. Notice that Jethro aims at a high standard (ver. 21); able men are wanted, and wherein does the ability consist? No doubt a certain acuteness and general power of mind was required, but the chief elements of the ability lay in those qualitie!i which Jethro went on to specify. An efficient judae between man and man must be also one who fears God. The fear of man that brinaeth a snare must not be allowed to enter his mind. He must measure things by Divin; standards, ever asking what God would wish his judgments to be. He must be a man of truth, sparing no effort and avoiding no danger ; in order to get at it he must try to keep his mind clear from prejudices. If he has fallen into any error he will promptly confess it, feeling that the interests of truth are more important than a reputation for consistency. And he must be free from covetousness. No suspicion of a bribe will cling to his judgments, nor will he be infected with that worldliness of spirit which looks to the property of men a great deal more than to the interest and comfort of their persons. But now the half-incredulous question cannot be kept out of the mind, "where shall such judges be found?" At all events let them be sought for. We cannot :find perfect men; but we know the direction in which to seek. Probably, in the course of a long life, Jethro has discovered that men are both better and worse tha.n he thought at first; and he is perfectly certain that men can b~ foun~ to du all tha.t is indispensably requisite for the pres_ent need. Moses was weanng hrmself out with duties which many in Israel were qwte competent to perform; but who of them all could do the work which hall been put specially into his hands ?-Y. Vers. 19.-" TM .eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee." Men may make a channel for the stream, but they cannot make the stream. Water-power is o. grar,d natwral agency; but it is by means of human agency that it may be applied to the best advantage. So also in other matters; power comes from God ; the way to use a1.1d economise power it is left for man to discover and to act upon. Consider here:- I. THi,: D1v1i-E i'OWEH. "God shall be with thee," said Jethro. 'l'he history shows how on. xvm. 27.] TUE IlOOK OF EXODUS. 101