Nephi has been commanded to build a boat to cross the great waters, but Laman and Lemuel are giving him a hard time about it. They refuse to believe that he’s been commanded of the Lord and instead, call him crazy, just like their father. Nephi is now recounting the Lord’s dealings with His children in the past and reminding his brothers that God is in control over all. Speaking of the children of Israel, he says:
31. And it came to pass that according to his word he did destroy them; and according to his word he did lead them; and according to his word he did do all things for them; and there was not any thing done save it were by his word.
Using stories his brothers are familiar with, Nephi teaches them that God’s word is all powerful. In the Middle East, it’s common for teachers to use parables and stories to illustrate points, either fiction stories or histories the people are familiar with. This is how Christ did much of His teaching—through parables.
32. And after they had crossed the river Jordan he did make them mighty unto the driving out of the children of the land, yea, unto the scattering them to destruction.
33. And now, do ye suppose that the children of this land, who were in the land of promise, who were driven out by our fathers, do ye suppose that they were righteous? Behold, I say unto you, Nay.
34. Do ye suppose that our fathers would have been more choice than they if they had been righteous? I say unto you, Nay.
35. Behold, the Lord esteemeth all flesh in one; he that is righteous is favored of God. But behold, this people had rejected every word of God, and they were ripe in iniquity; and the fulness of the wrath of God was upon them; and the Lord did curse the land against them, and bless it unto our fathers; yea, he did curse it against them unto their destruction, and he did bless it unto our fathers unto their obtaining power over it.
Nephi’s forefathers were blessed in obtaining the land of their inheritance because of their righteousness, and those who lived there and were driven out, had rejected the word of God. His hand of protection is stretched out over us when we listen to His words and obey Him, but if we refuse to obey, He can’t bless us as abundantly as He would otherwise.
36. Behold, the Lord hath created the earth that it should be inhabited; and he hath created his children that they should possess it.
The world was not created in a huge sonic boom; neither are we here by some sort of scientific accident. We were created by God, and He has a purpose for this earth and for our lives and our existence.
37. And he raiseth up a righteous nation, and destroyeth the nations of the wicked.
38. And he leadeth away the righteous into precious lands, and the wicked he destroyeth, and curseth the land unto them for their sakes.
He blesses those who will hearken to Him, and can’t bless those who refuse to listen. He doesn’t do this out of vengeful anger, but out of desire for justice. The wicked are His children just as the righteous are, and it hurts Him to see so many go astray. But like a parent who grounds their disobedient child for misbehaving, so the Lord allows the wicked to be punished, so they can learn. It’s for their own sakes.
From today’s reading: In what ways have we been led into lands of inheritance in our own lives?
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