The Strength of the Lord

"And it came to pass that we did go up in the strength of the Lord to battle.

 11 Now, the Lamanites knew nothing concerning the Lord, nor the strength of the Lord, therefore they depended upon their own strength. Yet they were a strong people, as to the strength of men." (Mosiah 10:10-11)

After the Nephites won the previous battle, they had peace for a number of years. The Lamanite king died and his son started going up against the people of Zeniff, but it was an uneven fight, simply because of the above verses. Zeniff's people relied on the Lord, while the Lamanites depended on their own strength. And no matter how strong the people are, if they don't rely on the Lord, they will fall.

Zeniff goes on to tell his people about why the Lamanites are trying to come to battle against them. He tells about how Laman and Lemuel taught their descendants that Nephi (and his followers) tried to usurp the right to leadership from them, the older brothers. They claim they were treated wrongfully, and that when Nephi left with his people, he robbed them (because he took with him the brass plates). And they passed this tradition down from generation to generation.

It almost reads like Zeniff is trying to excuse the Lamanites' hatred (or at least help his people understand it). I almost read it as if Zeniff is saying, "Of course we will go to battle to defend ourselves, but they don't know any different than to treat us with contempt and try to slay us."

Zeniff goes on to remind his people to put their trust in God, and here is the result:

"And it came to pass that we did drive them again out of our land; and we slew them with a great slaughter, even so many that we did not number them." (Mosiah 10:20)

They won the battle, even though the Lamanites were strong as to the strength of men, because they relied on the Lord's strength to carry them through.

I feel like this is a great metaphor for life. We often aren't called to an actual physical battle, but we are constantly in a battle with Satan. He tempts us and tries to get us to forget God and His strength. These temptations are very strong. However, if we rely on the strength of the Lord, like the people of Zeniff, He will not let us down, and we will win our battles.

I've seen it happen in my own life.