Noah and his priests were angry with Abinadi and labeled him as "mad." We use a variety of strategies to avoid accepting difficult messages. We attack the messenger, we respond emotionally, or we look for allies. In the end, it's better to actually listen
Despised
To despise someone is to "look down on" them. So despisers may have an inaccurate view of their own status and position. Abinadi and Jesus were both despised, so when you are despised, you are in good company.
Sackcloth and Ashes
The people of Ninevah dressed in sackcloth and sat in ashes to symbolize their penitence. As a result, God turned away the consequences Jonah had prophesied. Abinadi likewise urged his people to "repent in sackcloth and ashes," but they did not.
“In the Strength of the Lord”
Zeniff and his people were able do defend themselves because they fought "in the strength of the Lord." When they later relied on their own strength, they were conquered. We need God's enabling power in order to overcome challenges and achieve our goals.
Repentance and Resolutions
January is a good time to repent. Setting resolutions can be part of a pattern of change which can lead to incremental improvement throughout the year. Here are some of my resolutions for 2023.
“I Shall Be Turned”
Last week I wrote about Jeremiah's striking appeal: "Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed" (Jeremiah 17:14). I noted that God is willing to heal us, but that we must be willing to receive the gift. I also wrote that we must open our eyes to recognize the many ways God is healing... Continue Reading →
“I Will Not Hear”
The book of Isaiah opens dramatically. The Lord tells the children of Israel that they have forsaken Him, that they are damaging themselves by their actions, and that He doesn’t want to be a part of it any more. In words that must have been shocking to Isaiah’s listeners, the Lord tells them to stop... Continue Reading →
They Hearkened Not
Before Noah boarded the ark, he warned his neighbors: Believe and repent of your sins and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, even as our fathers, and ye shall receive the Holy Ghost, that ye may have all things made manifest; and if ye do not this, the floods will come in upon... Continue Reading →
A Tower to Get to Heaven
Sometime after the Great Flood, the descendants of Noah were gathered in a place called Shinar, which later became known as Babylonia. They collectively resolved to build "a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven." They viewed this project as a way to avoid being "scattered abroad upon the face of the... Continue Reading →
“I Have Not Spoken in Secret”
Isaiah emphasized to his people that the Lord had communicated very clearly what they needed to know. "I have not spoken in secret," he said; "from the beginning, from the time that it was declared have I spoken; and the Lord God, and his Spirit, hath sent me" (Isaiah 48:16, 1 Nephi 20:16). Nephi added his own... Continue Reading →