Page:An Exposition of the Old and New Testament (1828) vol 1.djvu/328

296 walk, and the work that they must do. 21. Moreover, thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens: 22. And let them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring unto thee; but every small matter they shall judge: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee. 23. If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee so, then thou sbalt be able to endure, and all this people shall also go to their place in peace. 24. So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father-in-law, and did all that he had said. 25. And Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers pf fifties, and rulers of tens. 26. And they judged the people at all seasons: the hard causes they brought unto Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves. 27. And Moses let his father-in-law depart; and he went his way into his own land.

Here is,

I. The great zeal and industry of Moses as a magistrate. Having been employed to redeem Israel out of the house of bondage, herein he is a further type of Christ, that he is employed as a lawgiver and a judge among them.

1. He was to answer inquiries, and acquaint them with the will of God in doubtful cases, and to explain the laws of God that were already given them, concerning the sabbath, the manna, &c. beside the laws of nature, relating both to piety and equity, v. 15; They came to inquire of God; and happy it was for them that they had such an oracle to consult: we are ready to wish, many a time, that we had some such certain way of knowing God's mind, when we are at a loss what to do. Moses was faithful both to him that appointed him, and to them that consulted him, and made them know the statutes of God, and his laws, v. 16. His business was, not to make laws, but to make known God's laws; his place was but that of a servant.

2. He was to decide controversies, and determine matters in variance, judging between a man and his fellow, v. 16. And if the people were as quarrelsome one with another, as they were with God, no doubt he had a great many causes brought before him; and the more, because their trials put them to no expense, nor was the law costly to them. When a quarrel happened in Egypt, and Moses would have reconciled the contenders, they asked, Who made thee a prince and a judge? But now it was past dispute that God had made him one; and they humbly attend him whom they had then proudly rejected.

This was the business Moses was called to, and it appears that he did it, (1.) With great consideration, which, some think, is intimated in his posture; he sat to judge, (v. 13) composed and sedate. (2.) With great condescension to the people, who stood by him, v. 14. He was very easy of access, the meanest Israelite was welcome himself to bring his cause before him. (3.) With great constancy and closeness of application. [1.] Though Jethro, his father-in-law, was with him, which might give him a good pretence for a vacation, (he might have adjourned the court for that day, or, at least, have shortened it,) yet he sits, even the next day after his coming, from the morning unto the evening. Note, Necessary business must always take place of ceremonious attentions. It is too great a compliment to our friends, to prefer the enjoyment of their company before our duty to God, which ought to be done, while yet the other is not left undone. [2.] Though Moses was advanced to great honour, yet he did not therefore take his ease, and throw upon others the burthen of care and business; no, he thought his preferment, instead of discharging him from service, made it more obligatory upon him. Those think of themselves above what is meet, who think it below them to do good. It is the honour even of angels themselves to be serviceable. [3.] Though the people had been provoking to him, and were ready to stone him, (ch. 17. 4.) yet still he made himself the servant of all. Note, Though others fail in their duty to us, yet we must not therefore neglect our's to them. [4.] Though he was an old man, yet he kept to his business from morning to night, and made it his meat and drink to do it. God had given him great strength both of body and mind, which enabled him to go through a great deal of work with ease and pleasure; and, for the encouragement of others to spend and be spent in the service of God, it proved, that, after all his labours, his natural force was not abated. They that wait on the Lord and his service shall renew their strength.

II. The great prudence and consideration of Jethro, as a friend. 1. He disliked the method that Moses took, and was so free with him as to tell him so, v. 14, 17, 18. He thought it was too much business for Moses to undertake alone, that it would be a prejudice to his health, and too great a fatigue to him; and also that it would make the administration of justice tiresome to the people. And there fore he tells him plainly, It is not good. Note, There may be over-doing even in well-doing, and therefore our zeal must always be governed by discretion, that our good may not be evil spoken of. Wisdom is profitable to direct, that we may neither content ourselves with less than our duty, nor over-task ourselves with that which is beyond our strength. 2. He advised him to such a model of government as would better answer the intention, which was, (1.) That he should reserve to himself all applications to God; (v. 19.) Be thou for them to God-ward; that was an honour which it was not fit any other should share with him in, Numb. 12. 6..8. Also, whatever concerned the whole congregation in general must pass through his hand, v. 20. But, (2.) That he should appoint judges in the several tribes and families, who should try causes between man and man, and determine them, which would be done with less noise, and more despatch, than in the general assembly wherein Moses himself presided. Thus they must be governed as a nation by a king as supreme, and inferior magistrates sent and commissioned by him, 1 Pet. 11. 13, 14. Thus many hands would make light work, causes would be sooner heard, and the people eased by having justice thus brought to their tent-doors. Yet, (3.) An appeal might be, if there were just cause for it, from these inferior courts to Moses himself; at least, if the judges were themselves at a loss; (v. 22.) Every great matter they shall bring unto thee. Thus, that great man would be the more serviceable by being employed only in great matters. Note, Those whose gifts and stations are most eminent, may yet be greatly furthered in their work, by the assistance of those that are every way their