We all know the story of Nephi’s problems with his older brothers – especially since that has been the topic lately in Sunday School. However, every now and again I notice something that is new to me.
In 1 Nephi 17, we read about Nephi and his brothers heading back to Jerusalem to get themselves some women. Woo-hoo! On their way back to the wilderness, Laman, Lemuel, their new girlfriends and their two brothers decided they didn’t want to go to the wilderness, but would rather head back to Jerusalem.
Nephi responded by giving them a verbal thrashing that wasn’t very well received. In response, they tied him up, with the intention of letting the wild animals finish him off. I have four sons, I can see this happening.
Nephi turned to the Lord in prayer: But it came to pass that I prayed unto the Lord saying: O Lord, according to my faith which is in thee, wilt thou deliver me from the hands of my brethren; yea, even give me strength that I may burst the bands with which I am bound. (1 Nephi 7:17)
There were actually two requests here: 1) Get me out of this mess, 2) Let me break out of these ropes “superhero” style. (I am not claiming that Nephi had a working knowledge of superheroes at this time.)
You’ve got to admit that it would have been impressive: Nephi grits his teeth, with muscles bulging, and veins throbbing, and with a mighty yell, he bursts out of the ropes. (Right out of a screenplay) It would surely have put his brothers back on their heels.
But that isn’t what happened. And it came to pass that when I had said these words, behold, the bands were loosed from off my hands and feet, and I stood before my brethren, and I spake unto them again. (1 Nephi 7:18)
The bands didn’t burst, as requested. Instead, they were “loosed”. It seems that it was more “Houdini” and less “Incredible Hulk”.
Net result was that Nephi’s first plea for deliverance was granted – but not in the way Nephi had requested. It wasn’t nearly as dramatic, and probably didn’t make nearly the impact that he was hoping for. But it worked.
I have noticed in my life that God rarely answers my prayers by intervening in dramatic fashion. He tends to operate much more subtly. This subtle approach causes me to pay more attention and watch to recognize God’s hand, and it also spares me from the dramatic intervention that might stir feelings of grandiosity or pride.
God’s ways are not man’s ways.
For every person who is saved from crisis by some dramatic rescue, there are a thousand of us who are quietly delivered, or spared the need for deliverance.
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Even the Saviour, when he performed a miracle, tried to keep it quiet. “Tell no man”. Of course, the person he had healed never obeyed, but proceeded to blare it from the rooftops. Quietly getting things done. That’s truly the Lord’s way . . .
John: Thanks for catching the mistake. I fixed it – oddly, I had the links right.
I figure that Nephi’s brothers probably just assumed they had tied him up poorly – they probably weren’t actively seeking to recognize God’s hand in anything.
Excellent!! I agree. Great post!
My OCD compels me, against my will and intentions for the greater good, to correct your reference to 1 Nephi 7 instead of 17. It’s such a no big dealer that I’m ashamed I couldn’t pass it by, and I apologize.
Good post, man, and great insight. Isn’t it something how, when Nephi’s bands are loosed and he stands up, his brothers go right after him again despite the miracle they just saw? Those guys crack me up sometimes.
I have been learning a ton about who God is this week, This helped. Thanks.
Nice post. I like how you broke it down in simple terms. I could explain it to my little ones like this and they would benefit.
I have definitely been on the receiving end of quiet miracles.
Great insight. And I’m wondering if Rapunzel was harmed to make that photo you used at the top.
some years ago in the ensign there was a story of a man stuck in the snow with his car or snowmobile. It could of been life or death situation and he prayed and prayed and then the though to get really specific came to him. He prayed for a specific thing to be fixed (I think) on his machine and it was answered. I wish I could find that story. Nephi prayed for specific’s and it was answered, the bands were undone!
Absolutely loved this insight, as it relates exactly to something I am going through right now. I am seeing bits and pieces of answers, but nothing huged all at once is coming. I am learning and growing from this step by step, and I recognize that it is a good, refining process. I don’t think I would appreciate it if everything was solved in one huge, dramatic “breaking of bands” so to speak.
We were trying to explain this concept to our children this morning during scripture study. Sometimes the Lord removes the problem, sometimes he makes people better able to handle a problem. This post reminded me of that passage in Luke where the people grabbed Jesus and were about to throw him off a cliff. “But he passing through the midst of them went his way.” That was more Houdini than Hulk as well. It’s almost as if the people couldn’t even see him as we walked away. I’ve personally witnessed this kind of deliverance, and I know that God’s ways are not our ways. It’s as if the Lord prefers to use the path of least resistance to accomplish his purposes.
I LOVE this. I have never thought of it that way, or noticed the difference in what Nephi prayed for, and how his prayer was actually answered. What a wonderful insight. And it really is true, the quiet miracles are often the most powerful and life-changing. Thank you for reminding me.
Good way of looking at it! Great post.
Let me preface my comment:
I’m in the Primary presidency and have not been in Sunday school for the new year of studying the Book of Mormon (bummer-our teacher is phenomenal and I really wish I could be in there), so I have not been following the lessons or what we’re currently reading.
That being said, I have really been thinking a lot about this lately! When I pray for the solution to a problem I think I know how to get out of it, but it never happens that way. I end up being blessed in a completely unexpected way and my solution is one that I hadn’t considered.
I’ve also come to realize that most times Heavenly Father doesn’t bless you with “the way out” unless you are faithful enough to come up with something yourself (albeit with the help of the spirit sometimes). Showing self-sufficiency in that way shows Heavenly Father that we have faith. Nephi had the faith that he would be delivered, and that’s why he was, even though it was in an unexpected way. And that is how we should live our lives. One way or another we will be blessed, or “delivered” as it were, from our trials because Heavenly Father is a just God and He always keeps his promises if we do our best to keep ours (thank the Heavens-literally-for the Atonement!).
Sorry for the soap-box, this post just really validated a lot that has been on my mind. 🙂 Awesome post, MMM!
I wonder if he asked for the strength to bust the bands because that’s how he understood it could happen. He likely didn’t expect the Lord to loosen them. We ask for help in the way we can see it working out for us because we can’t imagine the Lord’s power or what way he sees fit to help us.
Nice insight. 🙂