The Lord’s Promises in the Wilderness
This week we read that the Lord commanded Lehi to move on from their place near the River Laman. Even though this place was in the wilderness and seemingly uninhabited, Lehi’s family was able to thrive during the times when Nephi and his brothers obtained the Plates of Brass and later brought the family of Ishmael down to the valley of Lemuel. The commandment to leave initiated a chain of events that show the Lord fulfill promised blessings.
Right away the Lord fulfilled His promise, in the same way that Nephi had testified to his father when he was commanded of the Lord to go back to Jerusalem for the Plates of Brass;
.. I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.
1 Nephi 3:7
Before the families set off on a very long journey that will span 8 years, the Lord provided the means from them to be able to accomplish the thing that they where commanded. The Lord provided the Liahona to point the direction of the Land of Bountiful. The Liahona was a useful gift only when the family was faithful in keeping the Lord’s command and rely on him for guidance and safety.
This was immediately evident when Nephi broke the best bow that the families had to hunt beasts in the Wilderness. Just imagine you lived in a desert and things are going well and people are happy, when suddenly there was no more food. All of the peripheral worries of your life would narrow and there would be only one all-consuming thought on your mind. Lehi and his family were in trouble, and unfortunately the murmuring began shortly after. Even Lehi murmured against the Lord as did everyone else except for Nephi. The murmuring was so bad due to their afflictions of hunger, thirst, and fatigue that everyone was ready to turn around and head home, and also turn on Lehi and Nephi.
And Laman said unto Lemuel and also unto the sons of Ishmael: Behold, let us slay our father, and also our brother Nephi, who has taken it upon him to be our ruler and our teacher, who are his elder brethren.
Now, he says that the Lord has talked with him, and also that angels have ministered unto him. But behold, we know that he lies unto us; and he tells us these things, and he worketh many things by his cunning arts, that he may deceive our eyes, thinking, perhaps, that he may lead us away into some strange wilderness; and after he has led us away, he has thought to make himself a king and a ruler over us, that he may do with us according to his will and pleasure. And after this manner did my brother Laman stir up their hearts to anger.
1 Nephi 16:36-37
Laman and Lemuel’s true character and intents come out in these verses and the Lihona stopped working. To me as the reader it is hard to fathom that they would murmur against the Lord and threaten to end the lives of your Father and brother over perceived wrong doings. The Lord is everything to these families, they look to Him for food, water, security, and direction. They left all they knew in Jerusalem and obeyed the Lord and left, they had made the right decisions in the past, but why are they now complaining to the Lord?
The Liahona stopped working and there was chastisement written on the ball, so much that it caused them to fear and tremble exceedingly. Fortunately Nephi was able to pull himself together and take control of the situation and made an new bow and was able to obtain food again and the murmuring ceased, for now.
I could only image what it would have been like to travel in a dry, hot, desert wilderness with my family for 8 years where they endured hunger, thurst, and baring and raising children. We know they traveled in a south-south east direction away from Jerusalem, which on today’s map would lead to the Arabian peninsula and into a harsh desert. The Lord knew that the Valley of Lemuel and the Land Bountiful were not the Promised Land, but the Lehi’s family didn’t, the Lord had much bigger plans for them. All Lehi knew was that they had to leave Jerusalem to escape with their lives and go to a Promised Land, but they didn’t know where it was or when they would get there.
They were not alone, and the Liahona was physical evidence of this. The Lord told Nephi that He would be with them, and all they would need to do was to endure and keep the His Commands.
… I will make thy food become sweet, that ye cook it not;
And I will also be your light in the wilderness; and I will prepare the way before you, if it so be that ye shall keep my commandments; wherefore, inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments ye shall be led towards the promised land; and ye shall that it is by me that ye are led.
1 Nephi 17:12-13
The promise is the same for all those that follow the Lord’s commands and endure life’s journey. The experiences of Lehi’s family in the wilderness remind me of a scripture in Matthew chapter 6, when Jesus is teaching the Sermon on the Mount, that teaches us that the Heavenly Father knows the needs we have in this life.
Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Matthew 6:31-33
Lehi and his Son Nephi were surely seeking God and His kingdom. Nephi desired to know the mysteries of God and Lehi declared His gospel to his family and the people of Jerusalem. When they murmured the Lord’s blessings withdrew, but when they were faithful they were able to do hard things, overcome insurmountable obstacles to go where the Lord desired them to go.