Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon we read that Christ would come among the Jews and be crucified by them. If He were to come among any other people and perform the miracles that He did, they would repent.  But those in Jerusalem would stiffen their necks against Him because of their iniquities. As punishment for their sins, they would summer famines, pestilences, and bloodshed, and they would be scattered among the nations. 2 Nephi 10:3-6 " Wherefore, as I said unto you, it must needs be expedient that Christ—for in the last night the angel spake unto me that this should be his name—should come among the Jews, among those who are the more wicked part of the world; and they shall crucify him—for thus it behooveth our God, and there is none other nation on earth that would crucify their God.  For should the mighty miracles be wrought among other nations they would repent, and know that he be their God.  But because of priestcrafts and iniquities, they at Jerusalem will stiffen their necks against him, that he be crucified.  Wherefore, because of their iniquities, destructions, famines, pestilences, and bloodshed shall come upon them; and they who shall not be destroyed shall be scattered among all nations."

In the Old Testament we read that there were 22,000 men to fight for Israel, but the Lord did not want them to win the battle with that many men because then they would vaunt themselves and think they had defeated the Midianites by their own power.  So the Lord gave instructions to reduce the army to 300 men so they would know that it was only through the power of God they were able to prevail.  Judges 7:2-8 "And the Lord said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me.  Now therefore go to, proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, Whosoever is fearful and afraid, let him return and depart early from mount Gilead. And there returned of the people twenty and two thousand; and there remained ten thousand. And the Lord said unto Gideon, The people are yet too many; bring them down unto the water, and I will try them for thee there: and it shall be, that of whom I say unto thee, This shall go with thee, the same shall go with thee; and of whomsoever I say unto thee, This shall not go with thee, the same shall not go.  So he brought down the people unto the water: and the Lord said unto Gideon, Every one that lappeth of the water with his tongue, as a dog lappeth, him shalt thou set by himself; likewise every one that boweth down upon his knees to drink. And the number of them that lapped, putting their hand to their mouth, were three hundred men: but all the rest of the people bowed down upon their knees to drink water.  And the Lord said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thine hand: and let all the other people go every man unto his place. So the people took victuals in their hand, and their trumpets: and he sent all the rest of Israel every man unto his tent, and retained those three hundred men: and the host of Midian was beneath him in the valley."

A verse with a thought booklet tells us that if we listen to the Lord, we'll dwell safely and will be secure without fear of evil.  We can get rid of our worries and fears by trusting in the Lord and obeying His commandments. Proverbs 1:33 "But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil."