“we cast lots”
-they did
devise an approach (mentioned in verse 10) but it seems like they couldn’t
decide on who would carry it out. It is
also curious to note that they, for some reason, decided that only one should
go to Laban’s house. I wonder why? It would seem that they might have better
success based on the idea of “strength in numbers” especially going up against
someone like Laban who had significant resources at his disposal.
“should go to
the house of Laban”
-they
obviously decided on a direct approach: Go to Laban’s house and ask him for the
plates. Interesting. Clearly it was the approach that made the
most sense to them at the moment and with the knowledge that they had. We approach our life’s challenges in much the
same way.
"...the
lot fell upon Laman..."
-isn't it
interesting how the lot fell on Laman, the oldest, the one who -by the laws of
patriarchal authority- should have assumed righteous
leadership. It's as if the Lord is
saying,
“here is your chance to claim or forfeit your birthright
responsibility and privilege to be the
leader. I’ll give
you a chance to perform and step into the calling that is yours. Let’s see how you do, its all up to you.”
“he (Laman)
talked with him (Laban) as he sat in his house.”
-this
first plan was the most civil, the most straightforward, the most
rational: simply ask Laban for the
plates after laying out the merits of our request. In our day we sit down and talk things
out. The problem for Laman and his
brothers is that Laban was a man of the world, competent in the ways of
“conspiring men”. His position was one
of opposition to the will of God. Laman,
interestingly, found himself on God’s side in this particular request and as
one doing the Lord’s will, he was an enemy to Laban.
Here would be a good time to realize that the Lord knew
this plan wouldn’t meet with success, why did He not then inspire them to
proceed differently? Several responses
are potential answers to this question and similar scenarios we find ourselves
in:
1.
there were things that had to be learned in this failure.
2.
this would be a time for testing, proving, and potentially,
strengthening character/faith through the experience of failure that would not
be available through instant success.
3. perhaps the brothers did not approach
the Lord and request his assistance in the mater. If they did not, the failure
of the venture was a necessary lesson:
we need to inquire of the Lord for assistance and direction especially
when engaged in HIS work in the first place.
(As Nephi said, it was not something he or his father wanted to do but
it was something “the Lord had commanded”).
4.
Hindsight tells us that all was not yet set up for the way in which the
Lord desired things to work. Had they
succeeded here, they never would have brought Zoram into the wilderness and
that would affect the later happenings of the group.
The failure of this (the first) plan proves that it is OK
to fall short when engaged in the Lord’s work as long as we try again and learn
from the mistakes and stay faithful to the Lord. The Lord will allow us to fail but will
protect us in the faltering. This type
of failure is a part of His plan, we needn’t condemn ourselves, but we need to
continue and carry on.
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