Through a Glass Darkly

Paul wrote that “now we see through a glass, darkly” (1 Corinthians 13:12).  Perhaps one interpretation for this is that we don’t always understand the full reasons why the Lord gives us commandments.  We see only “darkly” why we are commanded to do certain things, whether that be general or instructions from the Spirit tailored to us.  I think we have the assurance that the Lord will let us know whether a given commandment or directive is from Him, but He makes no promise that we will understand all the reasons why.  There are several familiar examples of this in the scriptures where ancient prophets showed that they were willing to following the instructions of the Lord even though they did not understand why.  

                One example of this is of course Adam as he offered sacrifice.  An angel came to him “after many days,” saying “Why dost thou offer sacrifices unto the Lord?”  Adam’s faith-filled response was this: “I know now, save the Lord commanded me” (Moses 5:6).  He did not know why the Lord had commanded him to kill animals and place them on an offer in sacrifice, but he did it because He did know the Lord and trusted in His commandments.  I think the fact that the angel didn’t come until he had been offering sacrifices for many days is an important point.  The Lord wanted to see that Adam was following His commandment and that he was going to continue that. Only then did the Lord add understanding as to the why of the commandment.  Looking at it from our perspective it seems reasonable and clear that the Father would institute such a religions requirement among the people in order to point them forward to the coming of the Messiah. 

                The second obvious example is that of Abraham.  We read that God “did tempt Abraham, and said unto him… Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of” (Abraham 22:2).  Surely Abraham did not understand the reason for what the Lord was asking him to do. Looking back we understand the kind of test the Lord was trying to give him, but he had to show great faith to move forward with it despite seeing only “darkly” what was ahead.  We see the same kind of faith in Neph’s store with the brass plates.  Nephi did not understand why they were getting the plates until he had showed his incredible faith and perseverance.  Finally when Laban was before him on the ground, the Spirit helped Nephi understand so that he would make a choice and  move on.

                Some might call this blind obedience to move forward following a commandment without understanding why it was being commanded. But in reality it is the greatest kind of faith—it’s not blind because we have “proved Him in days that are past” and we know that God will not command us to do something that is not ultimately the best thing for us.  Of course, writing about this and actually living it are two different things—consistently moving forward in faith despite the dark glass through which we see is no easy way to live.