Let us Be Strong Like unto Moses

I have moved on to chapters 4 and 5 in 1 Nephi. So here is Nephi following the commandments and having to make this trip with is unbelieving older brothers. Thank goodness for Sam, at least Nephi had that support. So they go to accomplish their task and it doesn't work out. Nephi's strength and faith amaze me because he has to sit their deal with his older brothers complaints and whining. I mean, they had some reasonable argument so be afraid of Laban and his 50 men. But Nephi wouldn't even allow it. He just reminds them that the Lord is mightier than Laban and his fifty men. 1 Nephi 4:1, "for behold he is mightier than all the earth, then why not mightier than Laban and his fifty, yea, or even than his tens of thousands?" For me I think the most difficult part about this situation would be standing up to my family. Not that I have a difficult family myself, I really love my family and I mean ALL family, parents, sisters, husband, kids, in-laws. But if I were in a situation where I had to tell them no, we will struggle longer until we have accomplished the task, that would be harder than facing Laban and his men. I like to please my family and I would feel awful to oppose them in such a way. So I think Nephi had great courage to actually be the leader he needed to be over his older brothers. I am thankful that I have a good family surrounding me so that I don't find myself in that sort of situation.

I love Nephi's example he gives next. In verse 2 he says, "...let us be strong like unto Moses; for he truly spake unto the waters of the Red Sea and they divided hither and thither, and our fathers came through, out of captivity, on dry ground, and the armies of Pharaoh did follow and were drowned in the waters of the Red Sea. What I think is interesting about this example is that Moses I don't' think knew he would be parting the Red Sea until he got there. He was just following the commandments given to him as they came, just as Nephi is doing. They are just going step by step not really knowing what the next step is. Nephi will soon learn what his next step in verse 10 where he is commanded to slay Laban. So in thinking about yesterdays post and wondering if I am really following commandments or promptings when things seem to block me from my goal, I guess if I look at Nephi and Moses they had HUGE blockades in front of what they were commanded to do, but the followed the promptings one step at a time with faith that they would get to the end goal. It seemed like they knew the main goal...leading people to righteousness and salvation, but they didn't necessarily know the steps to get there. I guess I need to learn to focus on what the main goal is and just try to live and desire the knowledge I need to receive the step by step instructions. Does any of that make sense? It kind of does in my head.