1 Nephi 4:2

2  Therefore let us go up; let us be ^astrong like unto Moses; for he truly spake unto the waters of the Red ^bSea 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 are the more subtle lessons that Nephi is trying to teach (or understand) in drawing

 upon the experience of Moses and the Children of Israel?  The necessity to ACT.

     “therefore let us go…”

            -the “therefore” here refers to God being mightier than the whole earth and therefore able to prosper them in their efforts and to deliver them from death.  In other words, Nephi’s strength rests in his knowledge of God/in his testimony. Joseph Smith said that “it is the first principle of religion to know the character of God.”  It also appears to be of primary importance for each individual’s testimony to know for a certainty the character of God.  The lack of his singular knowledge is what makes Laman and Lemuel so weak and impotent in spiritual strength.  He who knows the character of God has a great key to the power and strength of God, but he who lacks this testimony must certainly live in fear and weakness.

     “let us be strong like Moses…”

            -the “strength” here, as alluded to above,  is not earthly and physical, but dwarfs anything man can aspire to by his own power.  This strength is quiet and meek,  it is not evident in the physique but can divide seas, move mountains, lay waste to armies, restore life and command the elements.  That is strength.

·         A vivid delineation between the two powers is aptly illustrated by Nephi’s example.  A physically weak people who had been slaves parted the sea and broke away from the yoke of their bondage while the most powerful army of the time was decimated by the waters of the sea that delivered Moses.  That is the strength Nephi wanted his brothers to develop; the same kind we need to develop.

It might be appropriate to guess as to Nephi’s spiritual strength from his reasoning and persuasion to get his brothers to be more faithful.  Nephi calls upon lessons of past prophets to engender faith and courage in his brothers.  He, himself, must have been familiar with these events and learned lessons of faith, of righteousness and of how God deals with men. From these he drew strength, comfort and knowledge that all was OK and would work for his good. We would profit to do the same.