It’s a very windy morning, and as I read Ether 6, I can’t help but think about the faith it took for those people to climb into a barge they built with their own hands. No warranty from a business, no safety inspection, no customer service number to call if something went wrong. Their only assurance was from God—that He had a plan for them, that He would be their light, and that He would lead them to a promised land they had never seen except through the words of their prophet, the brother of Jared. That's as good a warranty as any I can think of.
As the wind howls outside, my imagination wanders. The Lord used the wind to push them toward the Promised Land. I picture them hurrying through last-minute preparations while the gusts picked up. Mothers calling after little ones, “Grab that last treasure and get in!” Maybe a few resistant children who didn’t want to climb aboard. They were human, after all. Yet in the end, they stepped inside and turned their lives completely over to the Lord.
And then I think about my own winds—the ones that feel troublesome and inconvenient. Maybe those very winds are what move me exactly where the Lord wants me to go, if I have the faith to let Him steer and not complain about the ride. I’ve been on a boat in the ocean before. It’s a very big place, and being tossed around can be frightening.
Being buried in the depths of the sea is something else entirely. I’ve been scuba diving, and that alone requires faith—faith that the equipment won’t fail, that the dive master knows what he’s doing, that I can calm my fears. The Jaredites had nothing but their faith in the Lord. They didn’t even know how long the journey would last. Unlike a SCUBA dive that never lasted longer than an hour for me, they were simply told to take a lot of food and trust. I don’t think any scripture story intrigues me more. You can handle anything for an hour. Right?
Verse 7 really caught my attention today. Their vessels “were tight,” and when they were buried in the deep, they cried unto the Lord, “and He did bring them forth again upon the top of the waters.” Isn’t that just like life? We think we’re managing, and then suddenly we’re overwhelmed by the waters of this imperfect world. We cry out, and the Lord lifts us back up—again. That word “again” is important. He does this over and over because that’s who He is and that’s His plan.
Verse 9 — They sang praises. Years ago when I first read that, I decided I needed more songs in my repertoire —just in case I ever found myself in deep darkness and needed reassurance. That’s when I began memorizing hymns: hymns of peace, comfort, and testimony. Next to prayer, they are my go-to lifeline when I’m troubled. Truly a blessing.
And then verse 10. They had light whether they were above the water or beneath it. What was that light? The light of Christ. We can have that same light—both when we’re riding high and when we’re submerged in the hardest parts of our lives.
But the verse that really grabs me? The one that says they were upon the water for 344 days. Can you imagine? Confined in small spaces with your family for almost a year? I would have gone a little stir crazy. And the relief they must have felt when they finally stood on solid ground—oh, there would be tears of joy.
Maybe there’s a metaphor there. When we finally reach the feet of our Savior after this long mortal journey, won’t there be tears of gratitude for the safety and tender mercies that brought us home? I sometimes wonder if I’ll feel that gratitude deeply enough. And then I remind myself, Don’t worry, Connie. You will. You’ll see the Lord’s hand in your life—clearly—and those tears will come.
And finally, verse 17. They were taught to walk humbly before the Lord, and they were also “taught from on high.” What does that mean? Were angels among them? The footnote says “Divine Revelation.” I imagine the brother of Jared—and Jared—receiving revelation as they built a new world. Fascinating to think about.
No comments:
Post a Comment