I guess I'm too wordy; I though I would be able to cover these four chapters in 1 post but here we are.... In my defense, there are too many noteworthy things in these chapters.
A few thoughts about the assignment the Lord gave Laman, Lemuel, Sam and Nephi through their father. They were told they had to go back and acquire the brass plates that their kinsman, Laban, had in his possession. The Lord told Lehi that it was important for them to bring these plates with them. They eventually prevailed and returned to their father's camp with success.
Last post I spoke of the attitude differential between Nephi and Sam and their elder brothers Laman and Lemuel. This story further illustrates this point. For starters, Laman and Lemuel complained about the assignment. You can imagine what they said: "We just got here and now you want us to return?"; "It's too far to go back"; "How are we supposed to get Laban to give them up"; and so on. Nephi, however (and probably Sam as well) said "I will go and do the thing which the Lord commandeth...". Again, the difference is the desire to serve the Lord as opposed to the desire for self.
When they failed to obtain the plates of brass a second time, losing much of their father's fortune in the process, Laman and Lemuel took to beating Nephi and Sam in anger but were confronted by an angel of the Lord. Even after this experience, they murmured against the Lord, as seems to be their nature. Nephi went back and tried again, this time succeeding. The point? I'm sure there are many, but this one sticks with me: A true servant of God, a believer if you prefer, will believe in spite of hardship, difficulties or setbacks. Skeptics, unbelievers, will not believe even though they witness miraculous occurrences. Which category do we fall into? Do we witness miracles and have our faith strengthened? Or do we see miraculous things and shrug them off as insignificant. Do we truly believe or do we give lip service to our God?
Last two thoughts: We really don't have any knowledge of the time involved in this episode. Here's my thoughts: They traveled out of Jerusalem for 3 days. To travel to Jerusalem would presumably take 3 days again. I would assume 1 day for them to enter the city, get in to see Laban and explain their purpose, get rejected and return to wherever they had set up camp. 1 day to mull over what to do next and maybe another to gather the riches of their father left behind. 1 day to again trek to Laban's residence and meet with him and then to flee out of Jerusalem. Probably a day or 2 while they vented their anger, were confronted by the angel, and then murmur at Nephi and Sam some more. Then Nephi entered Jerusalem and obtained the plates and by the next day returned to his brothers. They probably left immediately after that and had a 3 day trip to return to their father's tent. Total that up: 11 days they were gone from their mother and father; 11 days of worry for their mother, who feared they had met with disaster. Small wonder that she complained to Lehi for sending them off. Small wonder that she rejoiced when they returned to them. She had her faith tested but was assured by Lehi, a servant of the Lord, and then saw the Lord's promises fulfilled. Obedience and faith go hand in hand.
Last thought: A very short scripture: "And my father dwelt in a tent." Why do you suppose Nephi felt it was important to inscribe this in his record of spiritually significant things?
Don
The tent comment is significant because Lehi was a wealthy man apparently. He had a house in Jerusalem with his own cushy bed and treasures that the boys went back to get to bribe Laban with. So for Lehi to dwell in a tent shows that the man was capable of leaving his home, riches, etc., and do the will of the Lord. He was capable of change to a nomad way of life after living the big city life. He was willing to do so because he loved the Lord
ReplyDeleteGood comment, Teri! I hadn't looked at them this way, even though I knew they were well off in Jerusalem...
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