1 Nephi 20:19 - 21:1

1 Nephi 20:19 Thy seed also had been as the sand; the offspring of thy bowels like the gravel thereof; his name should not have been cut off nor destroyed from before me.

The children of Israel have increased in numbers like unto the number of grains of sand on the sea shore or like the gravel on river beds. The purpose was to keep the name of the Lord alive in the world and He would use the children of Israel to accomplish that.

1 Nephi 20:20 Go ye forth of Babylon, flee ye from the Chaldeans, with a voice of singing declare ye, tell this, utter to the end of the earth; say ye: The Lord hath redeemed his servant Jacob.

The Lord therefore encourages the children of Israel to disassociate themselves from the evils that are in the world through the civilizations of the Chaldeans and Babylon. That their calling is to preach to them that the Lord is in charge of this world and He has brought happiness to those who adopted His commandments.

1 Nephi 20:21 And they thirsted not; he led them through the deserts; he caused the waters to flow out of the rock for them; he clave the rock also and the waters gushed out.

Because the children of Israel have allowed the Lord to lead them they have had water to drink in the desert. This is like unto being cared for and having your needs met. The Lord has promised that He would do so if one will look to Him in all his life.

1 Nephi 20:22 And notwithstanding he hath done all this, and greater also, there is no peace, saith the Lord, unto the wicked.

But in spite of having done these things and it being visible to all it has been rejected by the world and as such there is no peace. Those who ignore the Lord and His promises will suffer the fate of those who will not listen to Him. They will be on their own and they will fail in having peace in their lives. It only comes through the Lord. It cannot come by any other means. Just as you cannot get an idol to make bread for you, you cannot have joy and happiness with one either.

1 Nephi 21:1 And again: Hearken, O ye house of Israel, all ye that are broken off and are driven out because of the wickedness of the pastors of my people; yea, all ye that are broken off, that are scattered abroad, who are of my people, O house of Israel. Listen, O isles, unto me, and hearken ye people from far; the Lord hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name.

Isaiah is now speaking to the house of Israel that the Lord has lead away to other parts of the world. This would include Lehi’s family, of course, who had to leave Jerusalem to save their lives from the murderous attitude of the Jews.

This “me” referred to this verse some think to be either Jesus or Joseph Smith. The work that this person will do as mentioned in the next few verses fits both of them. Both were called in the pre-existence as will all others called to serve in the latter days.