Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Nephi 16:39

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Nephi 16:39

"And it came to pass the Lord was with us, yea, even the voice of the Lord came and did speak many words unto them, and did chasten them exceedingly; and after they were chastened by the voice of the Lord they did turn away their anger, and did repent of their sins, insomuch that that Lord did bless us again with food, that we did not perish."

What I never noticed before is that it says the voice of the Lord spoke to Laman and Lemuel and the sons of Ishmael. I compared and found that Nephi words it differently when he tells them things in the name of the Lord. But, to me it seems the brothers are actually hearing the Lord's voice. They are chastened, they repent, you can't get any more witness than that. 

This event happens right after they are plotting to kill Lehi and Nephi and go back to Jerusalem. They were mocking Nephi saying "he says the Lord speaks to him".  Well now they know that the Lord does indeed speak, because he just spoke to them. 

I pondered on why the Lord would do that? Why would he speak to the wicked? I think its because he will fight our battles. He knew of their plot to kill Lehi and Nephi and return to Jerusalem. It must have been a pretty good plot, that would have worked. The Lord will not allow the wicked to overthrow his plans. This reminded me of Moses and the children of Israel and the armies of Pharaoh chasing them to the borders of the Red Sea. The Lord opened the way for the children of Israel's escape with Moses parting the Red Sea. Pharaoh was out to destroy them, yet he witnessed a miracle by seeing the Red Sea part and the children of Israel cross on dry ground to the other side. So the wicked are shown signs and wonders its just to their condemnation and possible destruction if they don't recognize the Lord's hand in things.

Pharaoh didn't repent and his army went after the children of Israel and were drowned. Saul (later Paul) in the New Testament is also an example of someone persecuting the saints, threatening to destroy them, even consenting to the stoning of Stephen. He also heard the voice of the Lord but joyfully repented. How I love Paul. Laman and Lemuel and the sons of Ishmael do repent, they are not destroyed. The Lord must have a great work for them to do. I see that the Lord will give the wicked every opportunity to repent, he does that for everyone. But, I also see how he will fight our battles when the purposes of the Lord would be frustrated otherwise.

Day 195 Tami Fitzgerald Harris