Repetitive resumption and Christ's power to save in 2 Nephi 25

Repetitive resumption is an ancient scribal technique explained in this post. The idea is to use a repeated phrase to bracket a side note, when brackets don't exist in your written language. An example of this is found in 2 Nephi 25:20

And now, my brethren, I have spoken plainly that ye cannot err. And as the Lord God liveth that brought Israel up out of the land of Egypt, and gave unto Moses power that he should heal the nations after they had been bitten by the poisonous serpents, if they would cast their eyes unto the serpent which he did raise up before them, and also gave him power that he should smite the rock and the water should come forth; yea, behold I say unto you, that as these things are true, and as the Lord God liveth, there is none other name given under heaven save it be this Jesus Christ, of which I have spoken, whereby man can be saved.

Such verses often look grammatically clumsy in English and may be hard to get. I believe that they read better in the original language. In any case, I find such verses easier to get when I break them down and structure them. The point that Nephi is getting to in the end of the verse is simple enough:

As the Lord God liveth, there is none other name under heaven save it be Jesus Christ, [...] whereby man can be saved. 

But there is a long side note about the Lord God. This can be split into three parts. The Lord God...

1. "Brought Israel up out of the land of Egypt"
2. "Healed the nations"
3. Provided water from out of the rock

I don't think this is a side note where Nephi just throws in some random stuff about the Lord God. This blog is full of examples to show that the Book of Mormon was carefully written. The "Lord God" (Adonai Yahweh) is the God of the Old Testament. This is the God of Israel (see 1 Kings 8:23) that Nephi grew up learning about. But Nephi had also learned from his father and his own revelations that he would come down as Jesus Christ to save mankind. In the verse before, we read

For according to the words of the prophets, the Messiah cometh in six hundred years from the time that my father left Jerusalem; and according to the words of the prophets, and also the word of the angel of God, his name shall be Jesus Christ, the Son of God. (2 Nephi 25:19)

So this sacred name has been revealed by an angel and is the only name "under heaven [...] whereby man can be saved". Nephi's side note in verse 20 gives three examples of the Lord God's power to save, thereby showing that the very God of Israel who had power to save them temporarily has the power to save all mankind spiritually. A few verses later, Nephi states in no unclear terms

Christ is the Holy One of Israel (2 Nephi 25:29)

Let's have a closer look at the examples of the Lord God's power to save. These are all taken from the Exodus of Nephi's forefathers, something that he has referenced directly and indirectly several times already in his account.

Brought Israel up out of the land of Egypt

Leaving Egypt is symbolic of leaving sin. This post discusses some of the symbolism. The children of Israel came from the promised land that Abraham had obtained. They dwelt in Egypt for a while in slavery but they returned to the promised land led by Moses. In Hebrew, repent literally means to turn. We turn away from the bondage of sin and back to the path that leads to our promised land. We cannot do that on our own. The Lord God brought Israel up out of Egypt just as Christ brings us up out of sin through his redemptive power. Notice the "up" in Nephi's statement.

Healed the nations

The story of the poisonous serpents and subsequent healing by looking at the brass serpent is repeated several times in the Book of Mormon (See also 1 Nephi 17:41, Alma 33:19-20 and Helaman 8:14). Nephi seems to get ahead of himself a bit here. Why does he say healed the nations with plural 's' when it was only the children of Israel involved in this event? Again, Nephi is eager to make a connection to Christ, the savior of mankind (including all nations). 

Notice how Nephi is referring to "the nations" elsewhere in chapter 25. In verse 3, he comments on Isaiah and his prophesies that he has just read.

Wherefore, I write unto my people, unto all those that shall receive hereafter these things which I write, that they may know the judgments of God, that they come upon all nations, according to the word which he [Isaiah] hath spoken. (v.3)

Then about the fate of the Jews

Wherefore, the Jews shall be scattered among all nations; yea, and also Babylon shall be destroyed; wherefore, the Jews shall be scattered by other nations. (v.15)

Eventually the Jews will be gathered and believe in Christ, who has power to heal the nations (v.20). Then Nephi explains that what he writes about Christ must be kept and preserved so that "the nations" (who have now been offered healing and are left with no excuse) can be judged.

Wherefore, these things shall go from generation to generation as long as the earth shall stand; and they shall go according to the will and pleasure of God; and the nations who shall possess them shall be judged of them according to the words which are written. (v.22)

Provided water from out of the rock

Another story from the Exodus is when the people were thirsty, Moses smote the rock with his rod and water flowed out. In 1 Corinthians 10:4, Paul identifies that rock as Christ. He is the rock that we can build a solid foundation on and he can give us living waters. This is surely Nephi's point too. In all these examples, Nephi is demonstrating that the Lord God has power to save and that these miracles point towards Christ and the greatest miracle of all; salvation from sin and death.

Like physical water for our bodies, the living water is life-saving and life-sustaining for our spirits. Christ is the source, the fountain of all righteousness.

Christ, the only name under heaven whereby man can be saved, would

1. Bring us up out of sin
2. Heal us through the atonement
3. Provide us living water 

What the Lord God of the Old Testament did to his people of old was a type and a shadow of what he would do to all people who would take upon them the name of Christ.

 

Physical and spiritual nourishment

We see it time and again in the scriptures. Food and drink is a recurring topic, but often as a symbol of spiritual food or a reminder that "man doth not live by bread only" (Deuteronomy 8:3). Some well-know examples include

• The Israelites getting manna and Jesus later telling the Jews in John 6 that he is the bread from heaven
• Moses smiting the rock and water flowing out and Paul recognizing that as a symbol of Christ (1 Corinthians 10:4)
• Jesus drinking water from a well and then telling the Samaritan woman there that he can provide living water
• "Feasting" on the word of Christ (2 Nephi 31:20)
• Partaking of the fruit of the tree of life (1 Nephi 8 and Alma 32:40-43)
• Etc

In Enos, we also find this topic

Behold, I went to hunt beasts in the forests; and the words which I had often heard my father speak concerning eternal life, and the joy of the saints, sunk deep into my heart. And my soul hungered (Enos 1:3-4)

I like the fact that he hunts to find nourishment for his body, but when the teachings of his father sinks deep into his heart, his soul hungers instead. It is easy for us in this mortal probation to focus on our physical needs, but Enos' example is teaching us that there is something deeper, more lasting and important. When we hunger for that like Enos, we can be "filled" and "rejoice in it above that of the world." (Enos 1:26).

Another example is Alma 

And it came to pass that Alma ate bread and was filled (Alma 8:22)

What happens next is that Alma gives thanks to God, blesses Amulek and is obedient to the word of God telling them to preach repentance to the people of Ammonihah. Then they are filled again, but this time with the Holy Ghost

And Alma went forth, and also Amulek, among the people, to declare the words of God unto them; and they were filled with the Holy Ghost. (Alma 8:30)

The Brother of Jared as a Type of Christ

This article by Thomas R. Valletta highlights some of the symbolic connections between the brother of Jared and Jesus Christ. The article is long, and I'll likely summarize some of its main points in a few different posts. Definitely worth a read if you enjoy this type of symbolism.

One point made early on which grabbed my attention is the meaning of the Hebrew name Jared -- "He descends" or "he goes down." Thus, the brother of Jared becomes "the brother of him who descended."  I see a clear connection to the Fall.

The symbolic connections continue.

The story of the Jaredites begins at the Tower of Babel, which for many scholars represents a mockery/imitation of true temple worship.

4 And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. (Genesis 11, KJV)

This effort was rooted in pride and a mockery of the true way, however, and resulted in the confounding of the language and scattering of the people.

Contrast this effort with the words of the dedicatory prayer of the Kirtland Temple:

24 We ask thee, Holy Father, to establish the people that shall worship, and honorably hold a name and standing in this thy house, to all generations and for eternity;
25 That no weapon formed against them shall prosper; that he who diggeth a pit for them shall fall into the same himself;
26 That no combination of wickedness shall have power to rise up and prevail over thy people upon whom thy name shall be put in this house; (D&C 109)

In the Garden of Eden, man succumbed to the temptation of the devil and transgressed God's commandments in order to gain knowledge. As a result, they were driven out of the God's presence. Jared asked his brother to "cry unto [the Lord] wither we shall go." Similarly, Jared and his people were "drive[n] out of the land" but through their faith and cries to the Lord, they were led to a land of promise.

If Jared represents fallen man, his brother brings about the means of their salvation and journey to the promise land. The author of the paper suggests that his actual name might have been left out to point out to the reader that each of us has a brother just like Jared did who can do for us what the brother of Jared did for Jared.

The following table presents scriptural references comparing descriptions of the Brother of Jared with Christ:

Table 2

The Brother of Jared as a Type of Jesus Christ

The Brother of Jared Large and mighty man, highly favored of the Lord (Ether 1:34).	Jesus Christ “Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man” (Luke 2:52).
Intermediary for his people (Ether 1:34–39).	One mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus (1 Tim. 2:5).
Commanded to gather his people, flocks, and seeds (Ether 1:40–43).	How often would I have gathered thy children together (Luke 13:34).
Commanded to lead his people in their trek (Ether 2:1–13).	All are commanded to follow Jesus Christ (e.g., Matt. 4:19; 10:38).
Visited by the Lord in a cloud (Ether 2:4–5; 14).	Jesus visited by Father in cloud (Matt. 17:5; Mark 9:7; Luke 9:34).
Procured small transparent stones for the Lord to touch for light in the barges (Ether 3:1–4).	Jesus Christ is the light to lead us through darkness (John 8:12; 9:5; 12:46); He is also the stone or rock of Israel (Acts 4:11; 1 Cor. 10:4; Hel. 5:12).
Had a great vision of Lord on top of an exceedingly high mountain (Ether 3).	Jesus received divine messengers and was transfigured on a high mountain (Matt. 17:1–2).
Forbidden to write many of the things which he had seen (Ether 4:1).	Jesus charged his disciples after descending the mount to “tell the vision to no man” (Matt. 17:9).

There is a lot more detail to get into in future posts. It's an interesting connection to be sure.