Ever felt like you just weren’t getting an answer to your prayers?
The Brother of Jared built the barges, but started getting concerned about the lack of light within the boats.
So he asked the Lord.
“O Lord, in them there is no light; whither shall we steer?” (2:19)
But the Lord didn’t answer that question. He gave the Brother of Jared some direction about air that he had asked about, too.
He went and did as he was commanded, and solved the air issue.
But then he went back to the Lord and cried again about the light issue.
“O Lord, wilt thou suffer that we shall cross this great water in darkness?” (2:22)
And finally, the Lord acknowledged his cry. But He responded with turning it back to him.
“What will ye that I should do that ye may have light in your vessels?” (2:23)
But the Lord didn’t stop there. He then listed all the ways that they would NOT be able to have light.
“Ye cannot have windows, for they will be dashed in pieces.”
“Neither shall ye take fire with you.” (2:23)
And then he asks the Brother of Jared one more time:
“What will ye that I should prepare for you that ye may have light when ye are swallowed up in the depths of the sea?” (2:25)
Finally, the Brother of Jared realized that this was going to require some work on his part. The Lord wasn’t going to just tell him what to do.
And so he came up with a plan, and humbly presented it to the Lord.
The Lord accepted the plan and touched the 16 stones with His hand.
Which led to the Brother of Jared, filled with faith, requesting to see Jesus Christ.
And he did.
This back and forth, this seemingly messy conversation with the Lord, filled with repeated asking, and responses about what not to do…
It was exactly the pathway that needed to happen in order for the Brother of Jared to have the most sacred experience of his life.
True communion with the Lord is work. It is hard work.
And hard work brings miracles.
Happy Studying!
-Cali Black
