1 Nephi 20:9 - 20:13
1 Nephi 20:9 Nevertheless, for my name’s sake will I defer mine anger, and for my praise will I refrain from thee, that I cut thee not off.
Even knowing their unreliability, the Lord has not cut them off from His influence. He will not destroy them but He will not praise them either.
1 Nephi 20:10 For, behold, I have refined thee, I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.
They were plucked from a very bad situation in Egypt and therefore He will be merciful to them on account of the difficulty of getting the influence of their sojourn in that idolatrous nation out of their memory and souls.
1 Nephi 20:11 For mine own sake, yea, for mine own sake will I do this, for I will not suffer my name to be polluted, and I will not give my glory unto another.
The Lord will do this because of His love for them. He will not let that fact that everyone knows the tribes of Israel represent the true God of this world. He will not let that fact be ridiculed by the world when they see Israel behave just like everyone else. He is also determined not to give His glory to any other people either. Israel is chosen by the Lord and He will work with them until they get it right. This is, I'm sure, to fulfill the promises made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
1 Nephi 20:12 Hearken unto me, O Jacob, and Israel my called, for I am he; I am the first, and I am also the last.
Therefore the Lord tells Israel that He has the power to do anything He wants. He knows the beginning from the end and how to care for them. He has all power to do what He wants. No idol can match Him in power and grace.
1 Nephi 20:13 Mine hand hath also laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand hath spanned the heavens. I call unto them and they stand up together.
The Lord was the one that made the earth in the first place. Whatever He tells the earth or the heavens to do they do it. Something He had a hard time getting Israel to do, that is obey Him because He knows what is best for them.
