According to Avraham Gileadi, the idea of Israel's suzerain or Lord [Jehovah] assuming vassal or servant status in order to answer to his suzerain [God the Father] for his people's rebelliousness introduces the concept of a God higher than Israel's God. That is, Jehovah, the God of Israel, is a "Son" to God the "Father" (3 Nephi 11:7,11,32; compare 15:4-5). That concept does not appear explicitly in the Old Testament. Many Jews, therefore, insist that God is but "one" (Hebrew ehad; Deuteronomy 6:4); other than the Lord, they assume, no God exists (see Isaiah 44:6,8; 45:21-22). However, the idea of "the Father" and "the Son" makes perfect sense in light of ancient Near Eastern suzerain (Lord)--vassal (servant) covenant relationships.
Abinadi (and every prophet who teaches God's redemption of humanity) here enlightens us. Abinadi says that God, who redeems his people, is both "the Father and the Son" (Mosiah 15:1-3; compare Alma 11;38-39; Ether 3:14). That abstruse statement seems at first glance to contradict the careful distinction between the Father and the Son that other scriptures teach. But when viewed from the ancient Near Eastern suzerain (lord)--vassal (servant) covenant relationship, we gain insight on how the Lord can serve as a suzerain or Father to his people Israel, but also can serve as a vassal or Son to his Father or suzerain. To Israel, the Lord is Father, and they become his sons or vassals. To God the Father, the Lord is the Son, subjecting his will to the Father in order to merit Israel's salvation (Mosiah 15:2,7).
Moreover, as the literal and loyal Son of a divine Father--as the Son of a righteous [covenant suzerain "Father"]--the Lord is not subject to death unless he himself consents to die (See the type of Isaac's consenting to let Abraham sacrifice him--Genesis 22:9) Even if he does die, the Father must come to the aid of his vassal and deliver his Son from death. In ancient Near Eastern literatures there is the concept of the god who dies only to revive and assume the throne of a senior deity. Thus "God breaketh he bands of death . . . giving the Son power to make intercession for the children of men" (Mosiah 15:8). What the Father does for the Son, the Son does for his sons and daughters: when "the Son reigneth, and hath power over the dead . . . he bringeth to pass the resurrection of the dead" (Mosiah 15:20).
Moreover, the moment one introduces the idea of the Father and the Son, one also introduces the concept of spiritual progression. That constitutes as much a part of the "good news," or gospel, as does redemption from death itself (see Mosiah 15:10-19). Inherent in a Father/suzerain--Son/vassal relationship with God is the assuming of divine attributes--becoming God-like. . . . [Avraham Gileadi, The Last Days: Types and Shadows from the Bible and the Book of Mormon, pp. 239-240]