A couple of thoughts. Why is it that Laman and Lemuel are continually rebelling, murmuring, and then humbling themselves before the Lord while Nephi does not murmur, rebel or complain? This is Nephi's record, but there is a consistent pattern or theme with his brothers, and in this chapter, even with his dad. They harden their hearts and murmur, but then they are humbled, as Nephi writes, they are humbled before the Lord. The Lord chastens them continually, and Nephi suffers with them. But Nephi understands the dealings of the Lord, and therefore does not murmur.
But Lehi understands the dealings of the Lord, so why does he murmur? I don't think that there is any mortal who at one point or another has not murmured because of afflictions. Afflictions are not fun. They hurt. I imagine that Lehi was murmuring more because of his sons' murmurings than because of their lack of food.
Another interesting thing. When Nephi and his brothers marry the daughters of Ishmael, Nephi writes that thus his father had fulfilled all the commandments of the Lord, and that he had been exceedingly blessed. In 1 Nephi 5:20 we read that "thus far" Nephi and his father had kept the commandments of the Lord. But when Nephi and his brothers and Zoram marry, it is Lehi fulfilling of the commandments of the Lord.
When I read this chapter I wonder: could Joseph Smith have come up with these things on his own? Words like Zoram, Shazer, Nahom? A round ball? Who talks like that? A straight stick? Who writes like that?
In any case, Nephi was exceedingly blessed of the Lord.
But Lehi understands the dealings of the Lord, so why does he murmur? I don't think that there is any mortal who at one point or another has not murmured because of afflictions. Afflictions are not fun. They hurt. I imagine that Lehi was murmuring more because of his sons' murmurings than because of their lack of food.
Another interesting thing. When Nephi and his brothers marry the daughters of Ishmael, Nephi writes that thus his father had fulfilled all the commandments of the Lord, and that he had been exceedingly blessed. In 1 Nephi 5:20 we read that "thus far" Nephi and his father had kept the commandments of the Lord. But when Nephi and his brothers and Zoram marry, it is Lehi fulfilling of the commandments of the Lord.
When I read this chapter I wonder: could Joseph Smith have come up with these things on his own? Words like Zoram, Shazer, Nahom? A round ball? Who talks like that? A straight stick? Who writes like that?
In any case, Nephi was exceedingly blessed of the Lord.
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