1 Nephi 17

Jehovah

And it came to pass that after I, Nephi, had been in the land of Bountiful for the space of many days, the voice of the Lord came unto me, saying: Arise, and get thee into the mountain. And it came to pass that I arose and went up into the mountain, and cried unto the Lord. 1 Nephi 17:7–8

Jehovah, the premortal Christ, speaks to Nephi on the mountain and promises to carry his people across the sea.

How we know: Jehovah is the premortal Christ (Abraham 1:16; D&C 110:3–4)

Jehovah

For the Lord had not hitherto suffered that we should make much fire, as we journeyed in the wilderness; for he said: I will make thy food become sweet, that ye cook it not; 1 Nephi 17:12–14

Jehovah declares He will be their light, prepare their way and deliver them. The one who calls Himself their light and way is the same Jesus who later says 'I am the light of the world.'

How we know: Jehovah is the premortal Christ (Abraham 1:16; D&C 110:3–4)

• alludes to John 8:12 — 'I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness.'
• alludes to Exodus 13:21 — The LORD went before Israel as a pillar of fire to give them light.

Moses as a type of Christ

Yea, do ye suppose that they would have been led out of bondage, if the Lord had not commanded Moses that he should lead them out of bondage? 1 Nephi 17:24–26

Moses, commanded of the Lord to lead Israel out of bondage and through the Red Sea, prefigures Christ the Deliverer, the prophet like unto Moses. Here Nephi uses him as a pattern for his own obedience.

• a type of what is in 1 Nephi 22:20-21 — Nephi identifies the prophet like unto Moses as the Holy One of Israel.
• a type of what is in Deuteronomy 18:15 — Moses' prophecy of a Prophet like unto him.

Manna

And ye also know that they were fed with manna in the wilderness. 1 Nephi 17:28

The bread from heaven that kept Israel alive in the wilderness is a type of Jesus Christ, the true bread of life who came down from heaven.

• a type of what is in John 6:31-35 — Jesus contrasts the manna with Himself, 'the bread of life.'
• the same event in Exodus 16:14-15 — The original account of the manna.

Smitten Rock

Yea, and ye also know that Moses, by his word according to the power of God which was in him, smote the rock, and there came forth water, that the children of Israel might quench their thirst. 1 Nephi 17:29

The rock that was smitten and gave life-saving water is a type of Christ, smitten for us, from whom flows living water. Paul says plainly, 'that Rock was Christ.'

How we know: a Church study aid lists it

• interpreted by 1 Corinthians 10:4 — 'They drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.'
• the same event in Exodus 17:6 — Moses smites the rock in Horeb.
• a type of what is in John 4:14 — Christ gives water springing up into everlasting life.

Redeemer

Redeemer — one who buys back or ransoms from bondage

And notwithstanding they being led, the Lord their God, their Redeemer, going before them, leading them by day and giving light unto them by night, and doing all things for them which were expedient for man to receive, they hardened their hearts and blinded their minds, and reviled against Moses and against the true and living God. 1 Nephi 17:30–31

Nephi calls the God who led Israel out of Egypt, going before them in the pillar of cloud and fire, 'their Redeemer.' That God of the Exodus is Jehovah, Jesus Christ, whom Israel rejected then and would reject again in the flesh.

How we know: the verse itself names Him

• the same event in Exodus 13:21-22 — The LORD went before them by day in a cloud and by night in a pillar of fire.
• interpreted by 1 Nephi 19:10 — The God of the fathers who led them out of Egypt yields Himself to be lifted up and crucified.
• interpreted by D&C 136:22 — The Lord: 'I am he who led the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt.'

Jehovah

Behold, the Lord hath created the earth that it should be inhabited; and he hath created his children that they should possess it. 1 Nephi 17:36–40

The Lord who created the earth, covenanted with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and brought Israel out of Egypt is Jehovah, the premortal Christ, who created the world under the Father's direction.

How we know: a Church study aid lists it

• alludes to Isaiah 66:1 — 'The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool.'
• interpreted by 1 Nephi 19:10 — The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is the one who will be crucified.
• interpreted by Mosiah 3:8 — Jesus Christ, 'the Creator of all things from the beginning.'

Brazen Serpent

And he did straiten them in the wilderness with his rod; for they hardened their hearts, even as ye have; and the Lord straitened them because of their iniquity. He sent fiery flying serpents among them; and after they were bitten he prepared a way that they might be healed; and the labor which they had to perform was to look; and because of the simpleness of the way, or the easiness of it, there were many who perished. 1 Nephi 17:41

The healing by looking at the brass serpent Moses lifted up is a type of Christ lifted up on the cross; whoever looks to Him in faith lives. Many perished because the way seemed too simple.

• the same event in Numbers 21:6-9 — The original account of the fiery serpents and the serpent of brass.
• interpreted by John 3:14-15 — 'As Moses lifted up the serpent... even so must the Son of man be lifted up.'
• interpreted by Helaman 8:14-15 — The serpent was lifted up as a type of the Son of God.
• interpreted by Alma 33:19-22 — A type was raised up; many would not look; look to the Son of God and live.

Jehovah

And they did harden their hearts from time to time, and they did revile against Moses, and also against God; nevertheless, ye know that they were led forth by his matchless power into the land of promise. 1 Nephi 17:42

Despite Israel's rebellion, Jehovah, their Redeemer (verse 30), led them by His matchless power into the promised land.

Jehovah

And it came to pass that the Lord said unto me: Stretch forth thine hand again unto thy brethren, and they shall not wither before thee, but I will shock them, saith the Lord, and this will I do, that they may know that I am the Lord their God. 1 Nephi 17:53–54

Jehovah speaks in first person and shakes Laman and Lemuel so they will know He is the Lord their God.

How we know: the verse itself names Him