ZORAM THE INSIGNIFICANT

 

(Art: I Know You By Name by Laura Wilson)

 

Have you ever felt insignificant? Or on the outside? Or like an appendage to someone? Well, there is one person who in the Book of Mormon might appear to have felt like that. His name was Zoram, Laban’s servant who assisted Nephi in obtaining the brass plates. We don’t know much about this man but I am always amazed that he could be persuaded on the spur of the moment to abandon his life in Jerusalem and step on a ship to cross oceans to a whole new continent. Had he known Lehi and his family previously? Was he afraid Laban’s murder would be pinned on him so he seized the opportunity to escape judgment? Did he appreciate the twist of fate that took him out of Jerusalem and the life of servitude? Did he leave family behind? Did anyone wonder where he went and what became of him? One might think that Zoram became an appendage out of necessity and therefore was not all that significant to Lehi’s adventurous journey. He was after all just a servant. One thing we do know though: he was not insignificant to God.

This is the point in Zoram’s story that proves this truth. When Ishmael and his family joined the party, he provided wives for Nephi and his brothers but the interesting thing is that Ishmael had enough daughters for Lehi’s sons, plus one. The plus one was the oldest daughter who married Zoram (1 Nephi 16:7).  It is obvious the Lord knew way ahead that Zoram would join the party and that He did not expect him to travel to another continent with no provision for his future. In other words, the Lord knew Zoram, he loved Zoram, and He was invested in Zoram's well-being.  When he sent daughters to be born into Ishmael's family, he assigned one of them for Zoram.  Before Lehi died he gave a blessing to all his posterity, including Zoram (2 Nephi 1:30-32) because he was ‘a true friend to Nephi forever’. Zoram’s posterity became one of the seven tribes of ancient America, called Zoramites.

You might feel that you are like Zoram, not that important. You might feel like you are on the outside, that you are surplus, overlooked or not needed. You, however, are none of these things to God. You are Christ's work and His glory. Not a hair of your head falls to the ground that He does not notice. No matter how insignificant you might feel, you are not, because God has a plan for each of us in the great tapestry of life.  Each one of us is destined for greatness in the eternal scheme of things. Christ will ensure this is so and He will lift us to eternal realms of godhood to live with Him forever.

 

Do you see me Father, despite heaven’s vast expanse?

Do you hear the burning beat of my heart

Amidst the numberless host of heaven?

Do you cherish me

More than the stars that encircle thy throne?

Thy greatness is endless;

Thy power sublime.

In my appointed hour

Carry me home

In the strength of Thy loving arms.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN