Exodus 3:16

Gather the elders.

The wisdom of gathering the few; or the considerateness of the Divine Being in reference to the mission of His servants

I. This would be the most effective method of enlightening the mind of the nation in reference to the Divine intention.

1. This afforded Moses a good opportunity for personal explanations.

2. It was a good precaution against the ignorance and fanaticism of the common people. The more agencies a man can bring into his life-work the better.

II. It would be the most effective method of gaining the sympathy of the nation. All great workers should be judicious in their movement.

III. It would thus be the most effective method of working out the Divine project in reference to the nation.

1. How considerate of the Divine Being to give Moses this idea of working! Many men will not listen to the Divine instructions. This is the occasion of the great failure of so much religious energy.

2. How numerous are the agencies put in motion for the performance of Divine projects. God is the source of all commissions for the moral good of man.

3. All great workers may find a pattern here. Not to trust their new and Divine enterprises to the tide of popular opinion--storms may gather--may be wrecked. Launch them first on the more tranquil waters of the few--afterwards they will be more likely to weather the national gale. (J. S. Exell, M. A.)