In the scriptures there are a number of sometimes confusing paradoxes where a person takes an action that directly contradicts commandments or something seemingly contrary to beliefs or traditions. It can be very confusing for those who are asked to take the leap of faith and commit themselves to action. This is sometimes the trial of faith an individual needs to pass in order to obtain the blessings of heaven. Other times it is just the leap of faith that things will work as God intended.
We all go through the challenges in life, taking leaps of faith here and there, but at some point, when we are sufficiently prepared, we experience a trial of our faith. We may be asked to do something by God, or by life, that becomes a defining moment. A time when things don’t make sense but we know God has asked us to do it. The most important thing in that moment, is knowing God’s voice and obeying it, or just having the moral courage to press forward doing what we know is right.
The below examples may provide some food for thought. (feel free to copy/paste them into a collection note)
Event: Abraham sacrifices Isaac
Verse reference: Genesis 22
Apparent Contradiction: Command to kill his son vs. God’s prohibition on murder
Outcome: Stopped by angel; Isaac spared
Deeper Meaning (Macro view): Foreshadowing of God offering His Son; test of absolute faith.
Event: Midwives lie to Pharaoh
Verse reference: Exodus 1:15-21
Apparent Contradiction: Lying vs. commandment to not bear false witness
Outcome: God blesses them
Deeper Meaning (Macro view): Preserving life is a higher moral law.
Event: Rahab hides the spies
Verse reference: Joshua 2:1-21
Apparent Contradiction: Deception and betrayal of her nation
Outcome: She and her family are saved
Deeper Meaning (Macro view): Faith and protection of God’s servants justifies unconventional actions.
Event: Jael kills Sisera
Verse reference: Judges 4:17-22
Apparent Contradiction: Betrayal and murder
Outcome: Israel delivered; Jael praised
Deeper Meaning (Macro view): Deliverance through unexpected and even violent means.
Event: Samuel deceives Saul
Verse reference: 1 Samuel 16:1-5
Apparent Contradiction: Partial truth to avoid conflict
Outcome: David anointed safely
Deeper Meaning (Macro view): God may permit concealment for divine purposes.
Event: David eats the shewbread
Verse reference: 1 Samuel 21:1-6
Apparent Contradiction: Layperson eating priestly bread
Outcome: Not condemned
Deeper Meaning (Macro view): Human need can supersede ceremonial law.
Event: Hosea marries a harlot
Verse reference: Hosea 1:2-3
Apparent Contradiction: Prophet marrying an unfaithful woman
Outcome: Symbolic of God’s relationship with Israel
Deeper Meaning (Macro view): God’s covenant love despite Israel’s spiritual adultery.
Event: Jesus heals on the Sabbath
Verse reference: Luke 13:10-17; John 5
Apparent Contradiction: Working on the Sabbath
Outcome: Confronts Pharisaic legalism
Deeper Meaning (Macro view): Mercy triumphs over rigid law.
Event: Peter told to eat unclean animals
Verse reference: Acts 10:9-16
Apparent Contradiction: Command contradicts Mosaic dietary law
Outcome: Opens gospel to Gentiles
Deeper Meaning (Macro view): Revelation supersedes tradition to fulfill God’s inclusive plan.
Event: Judith kills Holofernes
Verse reference: Judith 13 (Deuterocanonical)
Apparent Contradiction: Deception and assassination
Outcome: Israel saved from destruction
Deeper Meaning (Macro view): Righteous deliverance through unexpected means; symbolic of defeating evil through courage.
Event: Nephi kills Laban
Verse reference: 1 Nephi 4:10-18
Apparent Contradiction: Command to kill vs. ‘Thou shalt not kill’
Outcome: Obtained the brass plates
Deeper Meaning (Macro view): Sacrifice of one life to preserve a nation’s spiritual future; foreshadowing Christ’s atonement.
Event: Alma leaves judgment seat
Verse reference: Alma 4:16-20
Apparent Contradiction: Abandons political duty during crisis
Outcome: Spiritual revival among people
Deeper Meaning (Macro view): Spiritual leadership surpasses worldly power.
Event: Anti-Nephi-Lehies refuse to fight
Verse reference: Alma 24:6-27
Apparent Contradiction: Non-resistance leading to death
Outcome: Mass conversion of others
Deeper Meaning (Macro view): Nonviolence as a Christlike witness with redemptive power.
Event: Abraham calls Sarah his sister
Verse reference: Abraham 2:22-25
Apparent Contradiction: Deception to preserve life
Outcome: Preserved and blessed
Deeper Meaning (Macro view): God’s protection and sovereignty over covenant lineage.
I struggle with this concept. In my mind I’m thinking that if I lie for the better good, it is still a lie and not right, and therefore not supported by God. I think that if I tell the truth God will bless me and protect me. Obviously, I can see all these examples and note that perhaps I am not thinking clearly. Yet, the concept just doesn’t sit right with me. It’s confusing to believe in a God who shows us the right way and we commit but, then have to ditch the right for His purposes. It seems oxymoronic.
You are 100% correct Pamela. I’m the same way. However, what God truly commands is always right. I think if we deep dive into some of these, we can see that the command is actually an honest/moral answer as well. Laban’s attempted murder was a death sentence for him. Abraham telling Sarah to tell people his sister was correct in an ancient setting because they were closely related, it just didn’t reveal too much. To me, these examples are illustrations of just how important it is to get close to the spirit and follow God’s directions so closely we never fear following him.
Thank you for breaking all this down into specific examples of these faith-testing accounts in scripture! I hadn’t thought of Laban’s death being a type of Christ’s crucifixion for the world. I’ll have to ponder that one further!
Think of the high priest Caiaphas in John 11:49-50. He says, “it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.” It’s basically the opposite of what the Spirit tells Nephi.
Nephi: kill 1 man so a nation will NOT dwindle and perish in unbelief.
Caiaphas: kill 1 man so the nation will dwindle in unbelief.
The foreshadowing is just the similarity of language and the relationship of 1 man’s death to a nation, not that Laban and Christ were alike in ANY other way.