006. Aaron’s Presumptuous Sons Dare Enter God’s Most Holy Presence

Aaron’s Presumptuous Sons Dare Enter God’s Most Holy Presence
About 2 minutes, from Lev. 10 and 16

Participants (No need to memorize lines; the aim is to relive sacred events,
not to perform)
Â Â Moses
Â Â Nadab
Â Â Prompter Â Â Â Â Â Shout a brief line, and Echoes repeat it.
Â Â EchoesÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Children and all adults who want to take part. Echoes need no script.

Nadab	Uncle Moses, why make such a fuss over this Day of Atonement?
Moses	Nadab, your father Aaron is Israel’s first High Priest; today he will enter the innermost Holy of Holies of this tabernacle that we have finished building. It is God’s tent of dwelling.
Prompter & Echoes	God is with us!
Aaron	Yes. I, Aaron, must take the sacrificial blood into God’s very presence; it glows in the innermost Holy of Holies. I fear to go behind its veil, but I must; the blood will atone for all our sins.
Moses	We will celebrate this day every year from now on.
Prompter & Echoes	The atoning blood!
Moses	Look, Nadab. Your father Aaron has entered. Will he live?
Prompter & Echoes	Have mercy, dear God!
Moses	Yes! Look! Aaron has come back out, alive!
Prompter & Echoes	We are forgiven!
Nadab	Uncle Moses, you and our father Aaron think you’re so important! Are you the only ones who can enter God’s presence?
Moses	Be careful, nephew. It is the law of the Almighty, not ours.
Nadab	We will see about that.
Prompter & Echoes	Watch out!
Aaron	Oh no! My two sons are taking strange fire into God’s presence! How can they be so proud and presumptuous to enter without the sacrificial blood! Stop them! Oh! It’s too late!
Prompter & Echoes	Fire! Fire!
Moses	Oh, Aaron! Flames have burst out from God’s presence!
Nadab	Help! Help!
Aaron	I can’t bear to hear my sons’ screams! The fire is consuming them!
Prompter & Echoes	They die before the Lord!
Aaron	My sons! Oh, my dear sons! Why did you defy God’s law? Why did you disobey the solemn edict of the Most Holy One?
Moses	God warns us all, â€œWhoever comes near me will treat me as holy.â€
Prompter & Echoes	Holy! Holy! Holy!