From his book “The Arms of His Love”, Stephen A. Cramer wrote:
Speaking of our Savior, Nephi taught “He doeth not anything save it be for the end of the world; for he loveth the world even that he layeth down his life that he may draw all men unto him.” (2 Nephi 26:24.) The Savior’s arms are ever extended, ready to deliver us from every circumstance or opposition that would keep us from enjoying the presence of our Heavenly Father.
Jehovah, the premortal Christ, instructed Moses to “say unto the children of Israel, I am the Lord and I will bring you out from the burden of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm.” (Exodus 6:6.) The book of Exodus describes the series of miraculous events by which Jehovah delivered them from captivity and demonstrated his power over the elements of this world. For the next forty years Moses reminded the forgetful people of the many miracles “which thine eyes saw, and the signs, and the wonder and the mighty hand, and the stretched out arm, whereby the Lord thy God brought thee out. (Deuteronomy 7:19.)
The Book of Mormon describes those same arms of love and power which were “stretched out” to deliver the Nephites from the influence of their enemies. “But behold, he did deliver them because they did humble themselves before him; and because they did cry mightily unto him, he did deliver them out of bondage; and thus doth the Lord work with his power in all cases among the children of men, extending the arm of mercy unto them that put their trust in him.” (Mosiah 29:20.) We note that his arms of deliverance are extended “in all cases among the children of men” when we place our trust in his power to rescue and deliver.
In New Testament times, Christ declared that one of the main purposes of His ministry is to “heal the brokenhearted, “to bring deliverance to the captives: who are held enslaved in spiritual bankruptcy by their sins,” and “to set at liberty them that are bruised” by their battles with Satan and their own carnal nature. (Luke 4:18.)
Modern Israel has been assured by the same assistance. “For ye are the children of Israel, and the seed of Abraham, and ye must be led out of bondage by power, and with an outstretched arm.” (Doctrine & Covenants 103:17.) There are many kinds of “bondage” which the Savior’s arms are “stretching out” to deliver us from today. Many sincere Latter-day Saints are in bondage to drugs, alcohol, compulsive addictions to lust, overeating, fits of temper, and other behavioral weaknesses and bad habits that they can’t seem to conquer themselves. Others are held captive to feelings of depression, discouragement, anger, unresolved guilt, inferiority and hopelessness that pulls them down and prevents them from enjoying the fruits of the Spirit.
Unfortunately, many people defeat themselves by attempting to conquer their imperfections with will power alone. It is natural for modern man to trust in his own skills to overcome such faults. From the time we were young we proclaimed, I want to do it myself!” Spiritually, many of us never outgrow that obsession.
Ancient Israel was constantly leaning on the arm of flesh instead of placing their trust in Jehovah’s promise to deliver them. The prophets were continually warning and trusting in their own power instead of Jehovah’s promise to deliver them. The prophets were continually warning that trusting in their own power instead of Jehovah’s would only lead to disaster. “Wo to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek their Lord!” (Isaiah 31:1.) The “Holy One of Israel” is the Lord Jesus Christ, who has invited us to come to Him when we need the intervention of His arms of deliverance. When we “have our back against the wall and just can’t make it on our own, let us not “go down to Egypt.” Let us come to Christ, “for he is mightier than all the earth,” and “There is no restraint to the Lord to save by many or by few.” (1 Nephi 4:1; 1 Samuel 14:6.)
The Lord already has our path of deliverance prepared if we will only get out of the way and give Him the opportunity to demonstrate His power on our behalf. Christ has never said that he expects us to deliver ourselves, but he has frequently reminded us that “I am he who led the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt; and my arm is stretched out in the last days, to save my people Israel.” (Doctrine and Covenants 136:22.)
And behold, and lo, I am with you to bless you and deliver you forever. (Doctrine & Covenants 107:8.)
For I am God, and my arm is not shortened; and I will show miracles and signs and wonders, unto all those who believe on my name. (Doctrine & Covenants 35:8.)
~~~ Stephen A. Cramer “In the Arms of His Love”, Covenant Communications, Inc (American Fork, Utah 1991), p.83-85
