002 – Exodus – Deuteronomy

001. I Am Sends Moses to Free the Enslaved Children of Israel

About 5 minutes, from Exodus 3; 12 – 14

Participants (No need to memorize lines; the aim is to relive sacred events, not to perform.)

Moses
Miriam
Voice (of God)
Prompter: Shout a brief line, and Echoes repeat it.
Echoes: Children and all adults who want to take part. Echoes need no script.

Miriam	I am Miriam, Moses’ sister. Pharaoh has enslaved us in Egypt. Hear those painful whips!
Prompter & Echoes	Crack! Crack!
Miriam	Pharaoh’s cruel officers force the Israelites to work even harder to build his grand city of Rameses. We groan under our burdens.
Prompter & Echoes	Lord, deliver us!
Miriam	By a miracle of God’s mercy and a bit of scheming on my part, my brother Moses is raised in Pharaoh’s palace. But now he gets in trouble!
Moses	Oh! What’s this? That Egyptian is beating an Israelite slave mercilessly! I look around to see if anyone is watching; I kill the cruel Egyptian, and hide him in the sand.
Prompter & Echoes	But someone was watching!
Moses	Oh no! I flee from Egypt, to where Pharaoh cannot find me.
Prompter & Echoes	Run, Moses, run!
Moses	Here I am now, tending sheep in this lonely land of Midian. Oh! That bush over there is on fire; it keeps burning, but it is not consumed. I must go see why.
Voice	Moses! Remove your sandals; you are standing on holy ground. I am the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. I have seen the suffering of my people in Egypt. Go and tell Pharaoh to free my people from their slavery.
Prompter & Echoes	Let my people go!
Miriam	Pharaoh listens to Moses, but hardens his heart. God sends many plagues to make Pharaoh relent and free us, but the cruel monarch makes our burdens even heavier. Hear what Moses tells Israel’s elders.
Moses	God’s death angel will pass over Egypt tonight, and slay every family’s older son, unless he sees the Passover Lamb’s blood on the doorposts. Go warn your people.
Prompter & Echoes	Blood on the doorposts!
Moses	So much death alarms Pharaoh. He calls my brother Aaron and me, and tells us to take the Israelites out of Egypt. Our Egyptian neighbors readily give us the needed supplies.
Miriam	Hurry! Join the thousands that are leaving in haste, before Pharaoh changes his mind. Look! That pillar of cloud is leading us by day!
Prompter & Echoes	And a pillar of fire by night.
Miriam	Now we’ve stopped; the Red Sea is blocking our way. What can we do?
Prompter & Echoes	Pharaoh changes his mind!
Miriam	Pharaoh is furious! He mobilizes his whole army!
Prompter & Echoes	Rumble, rumble!
Miriam	What is this that I hear? It’s getting louder!
Miriam	It’s the sound of horses and chariots! Oh, no! Look!
Prompter & Echoes	Thousands of them!
Miriam	They’re getting closer.
Prompter & Echoes	Lord, save us!
Miriam	Moses, the people are asking if there are no graves in Egypt’s land of pyramid tombs that you’ve brought them out to die in this wasteland.
Moses	My people, do not fear. The Lord will fight for you!
Voice	Moses, lift up your staff and stretch it out over the sea. The children of Israel will go through it on dry land.
Moses	A strong east wind blows all night and turns the sea into dry land. God’s children all pass through it; the waters are like a wall on each side.
Prompter & Echoes	Hurry!
Miriam	Oh no! Pharaoh’s chariots and horsemen are pursuing us! They’re halfway across the sea! Look! Their chariot wheels are swerving! They are in confusion!
Voice	Moses, stretch out your hand again over the sea. Now!
Moses	I reach out my hand, and the sea returns. Pharaoh’s army has drowned. Freedom at last!
Prompter & Echoes	Our God is all-powerful!
Moses	Now, everyone, let’s all discuss this. God used Moses to free his people from slavery and death. Mention ways in which Jesus has likewise saved his people from death and slavery, spiritually.

002. A Child’s Passover Prayer Foreshadows the Lord’s Supper

A Child’s Passover Prayer Foreshadows the Lord’s Supper
Relive the original Passover to appreciate the meaning Communion.
From Ex. 11-12; about 2 minutes

Participants (No need to memorize lines; the aim is not to perform but to relive sacred events)

Zurisadai
Dad
Prompter: Shout a brief line, and Echoes repeat it.
Echoes: Children and all adults who want to take part. Echoes need no script.

Zurisadai	My name is Zurisadai. I am ten years old.
Dad	Son, we are escaping from slavery in Egypt. Go get a lamb. It is urgent.
Prompter & Echoes	Run!
Zurisadai	I catch a lamb and hold it while my dad slits its throat. Blood spurts all over me! Flies come!
Prompter & Echoes	Oooo!
Zurisadai	Dad, why are you smearing blood beside our door?
Dad	Moses warned us that the death angel would fly over Egypt tonight, and slay each family’s firstborn; that means the oldest son.
Prompter & Echoes	Oh no! I am the firstborn son!
Dad	Do not worry, son. God’s angel will see the lamb’s blood, and pass over.
Zurisadai	Night comes and I cannot sleep. I am really scared. The night grows cold and silent. I clench my teeth. I beg the God of Abraham to let the angel see the blood. It is so dark!
Prompter & Echoes	Too dark!
Zurisadai	I hear screams, faintly and far off. They grow closer and louder. Now, the cries are all around us!
Prompter & Echoes	(Wail loudly)
Zurisadai	I press my hands over my ears. I shut my eyes, waiting, waiting, waiting. Dear Lord, save me! Save me!
Prompter & Echoes	(Wail softly for a brief moment.)
Zurisadai	The wailing grows fainter. Now, silence! I open my eyes. Mom and dad are looking down at me, weeping. I will never forget Abba’s cry.
Dad	(Shout) He saw it! God’s death angel saw it!
Prompter & Echoes	The blood of the lamb!

003. God Feeds His People Manna in the Sinai Desert

God Feeds His People Manna in the Sinai Desert
About 5 minutes, from Exodus 16 – 17 and Numbers 20

Participants (No need to memorize lines; the aim is to relive sacred events,
not to perform)
Â Â Aaron
Â Â Moses
Â Â Grumbler
Â Â PrompterÂ 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.

Moses	I am Moses, Israel’s Law-giver. After escaping from slavery in Egypt, God’s people camp in the desert near Mt. Sinai, and some of them grumble.
Grumbler	Moses and Aaron, why’d you bring us into this arid wilderness? We will starve!
Prompter & Echoes	We are hungry!
Grumbler	We’d have been better off dying back in Egypt; at least we’d have had our fill of meat and bread. You led us out into this desert to dry up and die. There’s no water.
Prompter & Echoes	Moses, we are thirsty!
Moses	I hear a voice from heaven and look up.
Voice	Moses, I have heard my people grumbling. I will test them to see if they will walk in my ways. Tell them that I will rain bread from heaven for them. Everyone must gather a day's portion every morning.
Moses	Sons of Israel, in the morning you’ll see the Lord’s glory. He heard your complaints. You grumble not against Aaron and me, but against God himself.
Voice	Moses, at twilight the people shall eat meat, and in the morning they shall be filled with bread. They shall know that I am the Lord their God.
Aaron	I am Aaron, Moses’ brother. It happens as God told Moses. In the evening quails come up and cover the camp. Next morning fine flakes of food are lying on the ground.
Prompter & Echoes	What is this stuff?
Grumbler	Hey! It’s tasty! It looks like coriander and tastes like honey.
Moses	The Lord has given you bread.
Prompter & Echoes	Manna from heaven!
Voice	Moses, have every man gather as much as he’ll eat, but only for one day. On the sixth day, bring in twice as much, so as not to gather it on the Sabbath.
Aaron	Look, Moses. Those who try to gather much have no excess; and those who gathered little have no lack!
Moses	Oh, oh! Some people disobeyed! This is serious. They stored up manna for the next day. Now hear them.
Prompter & Echoes	Grumble, grumble!
Grumbler	What a fiasco! The manna I kept over for another day has bred worms. It stinks! Why, Aaron?
Aaron	God did it. However, the extra portion of manna that you kept for the Sabbath has not spoiled and has had no worms.
Grumbler	Hey, Aaron, what are you and Moses doing to us? I went out to get manna this morning, but found none!
Aaron	It is the Sabbath. God told you yesterday to gather enough for today.
Prompter & Echoes	Hear God speak!
Voice	How long will my people refuse to keep my commands?
Aaron	The people keep quarreling with Moses and me.
Grumbler	The water is gone. Give us water, or we will die.
Prompter & Echoes	Water! Water!
Moses	Why do you argue with me? Why do you test the Lord?
Grumbler	Why did you and Aaron bring us out of Egypt? Was it to slay us and our livestock with thirst?
Moses	Lord in heaven, they are about to stone Aaron and me to death! What shall I do with this people?
Voice	Moses, Take up your staff with which you parted the sea. You shall strike the rock at Horeb, and water will flow out for the people to drink.
Aaron	Moses does so, and cool water gushes forth. God has spared our lives!
Prompter & Echoes	God saves his people!

004. Jethro Advises Son-in-law Moses to Name Shepherding Elders

Jethro Advises Son-in-law Moses to Name Shepherding Elders
About 2 minutes, from Exodus 18a

Participants (No need to read lines. The aim is not to perform
Â but to relive sacred events)
Â Â JethroÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â (Has a walking stick; any sort of bar or staff will do)
Â Â Moses
Â Â Bride
Â Â Griper
Â Â Goat Herder
Â Â Prompter 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 who want to take part. Echoes need no script.

Moses	(Sit where all can see) The people of Israel have escaped from slavery in Egypt; we are now wandering in a desert. I cannot keep order; too many people clamor for justice.
Goat Herder	They’re running around stealing and fighting, Moses. Do something about it!
Prompter & Echoes	Moses! Help me, Moses!
Bride	(Shout at Moses) Moses, my father-in-law promised five camels for me to marry his son, but one of the camels was lame, Moses!
Griper	(Point at Bride) Yeah, I gave your dad a lame camel for the girl, because he didn’t tell me his daughter was lame in the head!
Bride	I am not! You’re too stupid to understand plain Hebrew!
Griper	(Shout angrily) Moses, my neighbor’s goat ate all my lettuce!
Goat Herder	Yeah, but you didn’t have to eat my goat! It was a good Jewish goat!
Prompter & Echoes	They keep crying for justice!
Moses	Oh, here comes my wise old father-in-law Jethro.
Jethro	(Approach bent, using a walking stick. Shout angrily) Let Moses alone! (Wave your stick at Griper.)
Prompter & Echoes	Look out!
Jethro	Moses, you are an idiot! You let them drive you crazy, yelling at you all at once.
Moses	So what can I do, Jethro?
Jethro	Delegate your authority to leaders of 10s, 50s, 100s and 1000s. Let them handle the easy stuff and bring you the hard stuff.
Moses	Â Â (Stand) Jethro’s advice solves my problem. It lets all of God’s people receive attention and good shepherding. God then gives the Ten Commandments to guide these new elders. Now they are all mentoring new leaders.
Prompter & Echoes	Praise the God of Abraham!

005. God Gives the Ten Commandments on Mt. Sinai

God Gives the Ten Commandments on Mt. Sinai
About 2 minutes, from Exodus chapters 19-20, and Deut. 6

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

Aaron	I am Aaron. My brother Moses has organized us. He sought out honest and unselfish leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens. Now they need help to shepherd the people. Moses, why did you stop us here by this mountain in the Sinai desert?
Moses	Our God who freed us from slavery in Egypt will come down. Set the people apart, for the Lord Almighty will give us his Law. All the people will see what happens on Mt. Sinai. Let no man or animal touch the border of the mountain, or they will die.
Aaron	Stand back! Mount Sinai is all in smoke and fire; it is quaking violently.
Prompter & Echoes	Terrifying!
Moses	I go up to the top, out of breath; the mountain keeps quaking fearfully! God gives me many orders and inscribes on stone ten basic commands.
Voice	You shall have no other gods before me. You shall make no idols, or image of anything in heaven or on the earth. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
Prompter & Echoes	Honor your father and mother.
Prompter & Echoes	You shall not murder.
Prompter & Echoes	You shall not commit adultery.
Prompter & Echoes	You shall not steal.
Prompter & Echoes	You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
Prompter & Echoes	You shall not covet.
Aaron	Look! Moses is finally coming back down, carrying two stone tablets. Lightning is flashing, and the mountain is still smoking.
Prompter & Echoes	Stand back!
Aaron	I’m ashamed to say what else happened while we waited for Moses. He took so long on that mountain that the people got impatient; I made them a golden calf to worship, and they celebrated corruptly. Moses interceded for us, or God would have taken our lives.
Moses	Later, the Almighty has me proclaim the greatest of all commands.
Voice	Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God; the Lord is one! You shall in love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your strength.
Prompter & Echoes	And love our neighbor as ourselves.

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!

007. Earth Swallows up Korah and his Fellow Rebels

Earth Swallows up Korah and his Fellow Rebels
About 3 minutes, from Numbers 16

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

Moses	I am Moses. Korah has rebelled against me along with 250 leaders. Listen to Korah’s defiant complaint.
Korah	Moses, why do you and your brother Aaron exalt yourselves above us? I can lead these people better than you can. You go too far.
Prompter & Echoes	Rebellion!
Moses	Korah, the Lord will show whom he chooses to lead his people. Take censers, and put fire and incense in them before the Lord. Aaron and his loyal priests shall do the same. Both groups will stand before the tent of meeting. We will see to which group the Lord makes his presence known.
Korah	Very well. We will do so, gladly.
Moses	The next day both groups bring incense before the Tent of Meeting. All Israel is watching. Many shout agreement with the rebel Korah. God tells me to move away from the congregation. On no! He is going to destroy them!
Prompter & Echoes	Plead for the people, Moses!
Moses	O God of all flesh, when one man sins, will you be angry with everyone?
Prompter & Echoes	Spare them!
Moses	God has me warn everyone to stand back, far from Korah and his rebels.
Prompter & Echoes	Get back!
Moses	Hear me, all Israel, if the Lord does an entirely new thing, and the ground opens its mouth and swallows them up, then you’ll know that these men defied the Lord our God.
Korah	The earth is shaking! Oh no! The ground is splitting open beneath us!
Prompter & Echoes	Look out!
Moses	The earth opens its mouth and swallows Korah and his rebels! It closes over them and they perish. People flee in terror. Listen to God’s command: â€œOnly a descendant of Aaron shall burn incense before me, or he will become like Korah and his company.â€
Prompter & Echoes	Fear of God is the beginning of wisdom.