1 Nephi 17:21
"Behold, these many years we have suffered in the wilderness, which time we might have enjoyed our possessions and the land of our inheritance; yea, and we might have been happy."
Like any other Exodus in the Bible this is yet another story of an Exodus by faith, like Abraham and like the Israelites, Lehi's family and followers had reasons to stay in Jerusalem. Yes, there were those who were prophesying that Jerusalem would be destroyed, but so far away from being a witness to the theorized destruction, why would anyone believe. It could have been that they may have been happier in the land. Just like the Israelites as they doubted Moses's and God's intentions saying that they were only brought out into the desert to die. Abraham also left his whole life behind.
1 Nephi 17:22
"And we know that the people who were in the land of Jerusalem were a righteous people; for they kept the statutes and judgments of the Lord, and all his commandments, according to the law of Moses; wherefore we know that they are a righteous people; and our father hath judged them, and hath led us away because we would hearken unto his words; yea, and our brother is like unto him. And after this manner of language did my brethren murmur and complain against us."
There was never to be any confirmation for these people that Jerusalem was ever indeed destroyed. They also had to believe this by faith. They were so far away from the actual destruction, that it seemed like it never happened to them. The closest thing that they get to witnessing the destruction of Jerusalem is when Nephi says in verse 43 that "Jerusalem should be getting destroyed by now." But as far as they have witnessed they never actually got to know. They suffered so much in the wilderness, and they will even have crossed an ocean to a new world purely on the supposition that Jerusalem would be destroyed. To them they never really escaped any danger, they never knew the danger they escaped, only the supposition. And in the new world, they became a people who existed on a supposition as their foundation. And they will carry that supposition across the sea and throughout their generations... until eventually they forget where they came from, and why they are there. They may only get confirmation until after they have forgotten who they were and why they were there, only after they forget that they even escaped from anywhere, that their home was elsewhere. What would it feel like to be one of those people, who would have never assumed that they were once from the other side of the world, and now they are being told that the beliefs that they "once before" had are now being confirmed. It would be like mending a broken heart that had long ago stopped beating.
verse 43
Nephi, on the other hand, through faith in God's words, had always the confirmation that Jerusalem was destroyed indeed as he had received the message from God. Nephi's heart was never broken.
1 Nephi 17:41
"Behold, these many years we have suffered in the wilderness, which time we might have enjoyed our possessions and the land of our inheritance; yea, and we might have been happy."
Like any other Exodus in the Bible this is yet another story of an Exodus by faith, like Abraham and like the Israelites, Lehi's family and followers had reasons to stay in Jerusalem. Yes, there were those who were prophesying that Jerusalem would be destroyed, but so far away from being a witness to the theorized destruction, why would anyone believe. It could have been that they may have been happier in the land. Just like the Israelites as they doubted Moses's and God's intentions saying that they were only brought out into the desert to die. Abraham also left his whole life behind.
1 Nephi 17:22
"And we know that the people who were in the land of Jerusalem were a righteous people; for they kept the statutes and judgments of the Lord, and all his commandments, according to the law of Moses; wherefore we know that they are a righteous people; and our father hath judged them, and hath led us away because we would hearken unto his words; yea, and our brother is like unto him. And after this manner of language did my brethren murmur and complain against us."
There was never to be any confirmation for these people that Jerusalem was ever indeed destroyed. They also had to believe this by faith. They were so far away from the actual destruction, that it seemed like it never happened to them. The closest thing that they get to witnessing the destruction of Jerusalem is when Nephi says in verse 43 that "Jerusalem should be getting destroyed by now." But as far as they have witnessed they never actually got to know. They suffered so much in the wilderness, and they will even have crossed an ocean to a new world purely on the supposition that Jerusalem would be destroyed. To them they never really escaped any danger, they never knew the danger they escaped, only the supposition. And in the new world, they became a people who existed on a supposition as their foundation. And they will carry that supposition across the sea and throughout their generations... until eventually they forget where they came from, and why they are there. They may only get confirmation until after they have forgotten who they were and why they were there, only after they forget that they even escaped from anywhere, that their home was elsewhere. What would it feel like to be one of those people, who would have never assumed that they were once from the other side of the world, and now they are being told that the beliefs that they "once before" had are now being confirmed. It would be like mending a broken heart that had long ago stopped beating.
verse 43
Nephi, on the other hand, through faith in God's words, had always the confirmation that Jerusalem was destroyed indeed as he had received the message from God. Nephi's heart was never broken.
1 Nephi 17:41
"And he did straiten them in the wilderness with his rod; for they hardened their hearts, even as ye have; and the Lord straitened them because of their iniquity. He sent fiery flying serpents among them; and after they were bitten he prepared a way that they might be healed; and the labor which they had to perform was to look; and because of the simpleness of the way, or the easiness of it, here were many who perished."
"He sent fiery flying serpents"! In the bible it says that God sent serpents, but I had never imagined that they were fiery flying serpents! There are footnotes that refer to Numbers 21:6 (4-9), Deuteronomy 8:15, and Alma 33:19. Numbers and Deuteronomy says they were indeed "fiery" that is "venomous" but "flying" is not mentioned, maybe it refers to their swiftness... I can see that. Or maybe they did have wings. Alma just refers to the serpent that was lifted as a "type".
1 Nephi 17:43
"And now, After all these things, the time has come that they have become wicked, yea, nearly unto ripeness; and I know not but they are at this day about to be destroyed; for I know that the day must surely come that they must surely come that they must be destroyed, save a few only, who shall be led away into captivity."
Unlike his brothers that doubted, Nephi could feel the word of God as his reality. Although they were too far away to ever witness the destruction of Jerusalem, Nephi got his confirmation by faith.
1 Nephi 17:48
"I spake unto them saying: In the name of the Almighty God, I command you that ye touch me not, for I am filled with the power of God, even unto the consuming of my flesh; and whoso shall lay his hands upon me shall whither even as a dried reed; and he shall be as naught before the power of God, for God shall smite him."
This is one of the many instances in this book in which Nephi finds himself in a very sorry state and a very humiliating situation as his brothers keep trying to kill him from one time to another. This is evidence that this book is definitely not trying to exalt Nephi or his personality (at least in this book so far). As I said, Nephi is often displayed as a weakling only begging God to be saved. His virtue is not in his character, but in his dependence on God. As he begs, God comes through every time to save him, and to reprimand his brothers.
July 20, 2014
1 Nephi 17:43
"And now, After all these things, the time has come that they have become wicked, yea, nearly unto ripeness; and I know not but they are at this day about to be destroyed; for I know that the day must surely come that they must surely come that they must be destroyed, save a few only, who shall be led away into captivity."
Unlike his brothers that doubted, Nephi could feel the word of God as his reality. Although they were too far away to ever witness the destruction of Jerusalem, Nephi got his confirmation by faith.
1 Nephi 17:48
"I spake unto them saying: In the name of the Almighty God, I command you that ye touch me not, for I am filled with the power of God, even unto the consuming of my flesh; and whoso shall lay his hands upon me shall whither even as a dried reed; and he shall be as naught before the power of God, for God shall smite him."
This is one of the many instances in this book in which Nephi finds himself in a very sorry state and a very humiliating situation as his brothers keep trying to kill him from one time to another. This is evidence that this book is definitely not trying to exalt Nephi or his personality (at least in this book so far). As I said, Nephi is often displayed as a weakling only begging God to be saved. His virtue is not in his character, but in his dependence on God. As he begs, God comes through every time to save him, and to reprimand his brothers.
July 20, 2014
No comments:
Post a Comment