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confidence between Moses and his father-in-law. His verysubordinate position in the
family of Jethro (3:1); the fact of his reticence in regard to the exact visionvouchsafed
him of God (4:18); and the humble manner in which Moses was sent back into
Egypt(ver. 20), all give a saddening view of the mutual relations. What, however, all
this time were thedeepest feelings and experiences of his heart, found expression in
the names which he gave to histwo sons. The elder he named Gershom (expulsion,
banishment), "for he said, I have been astranger in a strange land" (Exodus 2:22) the
second he called Eliezer, "my God is help" (18:4).Banished to a strange land, far from
his brethren and the land of promise, Moses longs for his realhome. Yet this feeling
issues not in despondency, far less in disbelief or distrust. On the contrary,
"thepeaceable fruits of righteousness," springing from the "chastening" of the Lord,
appear in the name ofhis second son; "for the God of my fathers," said he, "is mine
help, and delivered me from the swordof Pharaoh." The self-confidence and carnal
zeal manifest in his early attempt to deliver his brethrenin Egypt have been quenched
in the land of his banishment, and in the school of sorrow. And theresult of all he has
suffered and learned has been absolute trustfulness in the God of his fathers, theGod
of the promises, Who would surely fulfill His word.
(^)