Laman and Lemuel responded as usual, in anger, but once more the Lord demonstrated that he was with Nephi. They were “confounded and could not contend against [Nephi].” Nephi commanding them to no more murmur against their father and not “withhold their labor” in the building of a ship indicates Nephi’s continual love for his father and his desire to honor him (v. 49).
There is a great lesson to be learned from Nephi’s declaration that he could do whatever God commanded him to do (v. 50). Nephi believed he could do what the Lord commanded because Moses had been able to do what the Lord commanded of him. In turn, we should believe that if Moses and Nephi were both able to do what the Lord commanded, we can also do as the Lord commands of us. This is a major precept of this chapter.
The Spirit was so powerful that the brothers were in fear for several days (v. 52). Only the power of God could have had such a lasting effect, but God gave them one more witness of his power.