It Goes Both Ways

The Content:

Alma 43

Verse 31-33

Therefore, he divided his army and brought a part over into the valley, and concealed them on the east, and on the south of the hill Riplah;

And the remainder he concealed in the west valley, on the west of the river Sidon, and so down into the borders of the land Manti.

And thus having placed his army according to his desire, he was prepared to meet them.

The Comments:

Moroni used his information and strategy to place his armies as a trap for the Lamanites.

The Lord can help us devise strategies for our lives as well. We are all called on to do hard things, and to face odds that seem overwhelming, but the Lord is the direction to turn in to get help. Moroni doesn't know exactly what the Lamanites will do, but he’s done his best (both spiritually and physically) to prepare his men.  As far as we know, the Lamanites didn’t send out spies, or if they did, they didn’t make it back to report. It looks to me that Moroni and his men were doing a great deal more to prepare.

On the other hand, Satan is a master of laying traps for us.  He does it all the time. And for whatever reason, we walk straight into them.  When the situation is reversed, the Spirit (if we are worthy of him) will warn us of Satan’s traps, so that we don’t walk right into them.

Most of the lessons learned from the war chapters can be turned either direction for us: if the Lord is helping us, or if Satan is using this strategy against us. Watch for this, because it’s everywhere.