1 Nephi 17:7-13
- April McMurtrey
- Dec 18, 2022
- 3 min read
7 And it came to pass that after I, Nephi, had been in the land of Bountiful for the space of many days, the voice of the Lord came unto me, saying: Arise, and get thee into the mountain. And it came to pass that I arose and went up into the mountain, and cried unto the Lord.
Was Nephi sleeping? Did God come to him in the night, like He did Nephi's father? (I think?)
When did God show him? How much at a time? All at once, on the mountain? No, I think later Nephi says that God showed Him from "time to time". What was that like? Like, literally? These are very sacred experiences that I read much too fast past.
9 And I said: Lord, whither shall I go that I may find ore to molten, that I may make tools to construct the ship after the manner which thou hast shown unto me?
God must have shown him in V8, because in V9 Nephi's seen it. SO much to ponder and imagine. And to think - this is all TRUE!
11 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did make a bellows wherewith to blow the fire, of the skins of beasts; and after I had made a bellows, that I might have wherewith to blow the fire, I did smite two stones together that I might make fire.
When did he tell his brothers?
12 For the Lord had not hitherto suffered that we should make much fire, as we journeyed in the wilderness; for he said: I will make thy food become sweet, that ye cook it not;
Why was it important to God that they didn't make much fire??? And not cook their food?
Was it cold? Not important, it's all just so infinitely ponderable.
13 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 know that it is by me that ye are led.
How was God their light in the wilderness? Was it a pillar of fire experience like the Isaraelites?
So God made their food sweet without cooking, was their light for them, and possibly kept them warm too, all because God didn't want them to have much fire, I wonder why?
Would it have been too easy for the Lamanites for find them? How close were they- oh wait- the Lamanites are still with them? Would their enemies have been looking for them? Was there still a search party out (even 8 years later) for the killer of Laban and the taker of the brass plates? Did people know Lehi and Ishmael's families were missing - and suspect them?
Surely God had a purpose for no fire, which He may or may not have told them.
For me, I need to trust God even in commandments or counsel that I don't understand or that I have questions about.
I'll trust Him because I know that He knows, loves me and wants nothing more than to bless me.
I'll remember that.
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