Prompter

We will now visit Mystery Moms of the Bible. All of you are in the cast of this drama.  If you have no script, then you’re an Echo; repeat whatever I say after we start. All of you, please guess out loud at any time which Mystery Mom is speaking. You’ll find out if you are correct. If you guess a Mom, then let other people guess the others, unless nobody can, so that more people get a chance to guess. Okay, now we are starting.

1^st Mom

Hello, folks. I’m your host. I am also your first Mystery Mom.

Prompter

(& Echoes) Our 1st Mystery Mom! 

(If the people fail to echo this, then say, “Let’s hear it!” & repeat if necessary.)

1^st Mom

Welcome to our Holy Land tour. I am your tour guide. Do you know who I am? My husband is a tentmaker named Aquila. We worked together with the Apostle Paul in Corinth. We also helped eloquent Apollos to better understand the Way, in Ephesus.

Now, come with me. This road leads to past ages. Are you ready? Here we go!

Prompter

Hang on!

 

 

1^st Mom

Now we meet our 2nd Mystery Mom.

2^nd Mom

Well now! We have company! Welcome, friends!

1^st Mom

Oh! We’re in a tent! I can smell goats! Pardon us, Ma’am, can you tell us who you are, and what you’re known for?

2^nd Mom

I’m the wife of the patriarch Isaac. I’m afraid I am remembered because I urged my son Jacob to be a schemer!

Prompter

(& Echoes) A schemer!

2^nd Mom

Yes, I had Jacob trick his father Isaac, to get Esau’s birthright as the firstborn. Esau intended to kill Jacob then, and Jacob fled. I cried a lot.

1^st Mom

Then what happened, Ma’am?

2nd Mom

Jacob collected wives while working for my brother Laban in Syria. They were more devout than that wife of his second cousin Lot; she wanted to stay in wicked Sodom, and God turned her into a pillar of salt!

1^st Mom

What was your mother-in-law Sarah like?

2nd Mom

Oh, Sarah was absolutely beautiful, even in her old age! She led a bumpy life with Abraham. Drafty tents! Always on the go! Over 1,000 miles on their first trek from Ur! Once Sarah giggled, eavesdropping, when a visitor told Abraham that she’d bear a son in her old age. She did not know the visitor was an angel.

1^st Mom

An angel! Oh, my! Didn’t she believe him?

Prompter

(& Echoes) That was sad.

2^nd Mom

Sarah urged Abraham to father an heir by her maid Hagar. His faith faltered and he did it! Hagar bore Ishmael, and the two women squabbled. Sarah drove Hagar and her son Ishmael away.

Prompter

(& Echoes) That also was sad!

1^st Mom

I remember that bit of history. It caused bitter strife between their descendants that lasts to this day.

2^nd Mom

I must go milk the goats now. Please excuse me.

1^st Mom

Thank you, Ma’am. Come now, folks, to a later age.

Prompter

(& Echoes) Goodbye, Rebecca!

 

 

1st Mom

Now we meet our 3rd Mystery Mom.

3^rd Mom

Hello, strangers. Welcome! I am Moses’ older sister.

1^st Mom

Oh! What are these tiny flakes on the ground?

3^rd Mom

It is manna. It is good to eat. Try it!

Prompter

(& Echoes) Yum yum!

1^st Mom

You and your companions seem to be in a hurry. What’s the occasion?

3^rd Mom

We are fleeing from Egypt’s evil king, Pharaoh.

Prompter   

(& Echoes) A huge exodus!

3^rd Mom

Pharaoh enslaved us cruelly; he force our people to build his cities and immense tombs.

1st Mom

I read about that in the Book of Exodus.

3^rd Mom

A book? It must be the log that Moses kept to record God’s great works. We multiplied so in Egypt that Pharaoh feared that we’d aid his enemies, So He ordered our midwives to drown all Hebrew babies in the Nile River.

1^st Mom

Yes! You and your mom hid baby Moses among reeds in the Nile River.

3^rd Mom

And Pharaoh’s daughter came to bathe. She found baby Moses and adopted him.

1^st Mom

The hand of the Almighty was in that!

Prompter

(& Echoes) Praise be to God!

3^rd Mom

I urged the Princess to have a Jewish lady nurse him. I did not tell her that the lady was Moses’ real mother. Years later, God had Moses take us through the sea to escape Pharaoh’s army.

1st Mom

I read your song of praise following that great miracle. You women sang it after God rescued you.

Prompter

(& Echoes) It was beautiful!

3^rd Mom

While wandering in the desert, we grew tired and cranky. To my shame, I scolded Moses because of his dark skinned, Cushite wife. So, God turned my skin white! But the Almighty had mercy and healed my leprosy when I repented.

Prompter

^ (& Echoes) Wow!

1^st Mom

We must go now. Thank you, gracious lady. Come now, folks, to a later century.

Prompter

(& Echoes) Goodbye, Miriam.

 

 

1st Mom   

Now we meet our 4th mystery mom.

4^th Mom

Hi, travelers! You came at a good time. We have a sale on barley flour. 

1^st Mom

Oh! Who is this nice white-haired lady?

4^th Mom

Here. Have some bread. The Lord gave us a great harvest in Bethlehem. I’m a poor widow, and that is my daughter-in-law Ruth over there grinding flour.

Prompter  

(& Echoes) Wow! She’s gorgeous!

1^st Mom

Sweet girl! But Ruth is not Jewish if I remember right.

4^th Mom

Just by marriage. Famine drove us to Moab, and my sons wed Moabite girls, Ruth and Orphah. My husband and sons died there, leaving us three women as widows. I was bitter.

1^st Mom

How sad!

Prompter  

(& Echoes) Three desolate widows!

4^th Mom

I heard the famine had ended in Bethlehem and I started back there. Ruth and Orphah both started out with me, but I told them to stay with their families.

Orphah wept bitterly and returned home, but Ruth clung to me.

Prompter  

(& Echoes) She was a gem!

1^st Mom

God recorded for all time what Ruth told you. I remember her plea by heart: 

“Do not urge me to return; where you go I will go; where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God. Where you die, I will die. May the Lord take my life if anything but death separates us.”

Prompter  

Heart-stirring!

4^th Mom

Ruth’s people were idolaters, but she came to love Israel’s one true God. Both my wealthy relative Boaz and I loved her, and God used our love. Boaz knew that Ruth had been kind to me, and he married her. Boaz’ father Salmon had also married a gentile woman, naughty Rahab of Jericho.

1st Mom

Ruth was David’s great grandmother. 

Prompter  

(& Echoes) And an ancestor of Jesus!

1st Mom

We must go now. Come folks, to a later age.

Prompter  

(& Echoes) Goodbye, Naomi!

 

 

1^st Mom 

Now we meet our 5^th mom.

5^th Mom

Why, hello! Come in.

1^st Mom

This lovely lady is one of David’s wives. Ma’am, why are you renown?

5^th Mom 

I didn’t know I was known! I only fed David’s starved soldiers.

Prompter  

(& Echoes) David fell in love with you!

1^st Mom 

You were a giver; it is recorded in Scripture.

Prompter 

(& Echoes) A generous giver!

5^th Mom

David preferred me to that sharp-tongued Michal, King Saul’s daughter. Michal nagged David as bad as Job’s wife nagged him. Saul envied David’s fame; he had David kill 100 Philistines to win Michal.

1st Mom 

I think Saul hoped that the Philistines would kill David.

Prompter  

(& Echoes) Saul was jealous!

5^th Mom 

God let another woman be Saul’s ruin, the witch of Endor. 

Prompter

(& Echoes) God had forbidden witchcraft!

5^th Mom

Well, I was David’s favorite wife until Bathsheba caught his eye. I think she was as seductive as Potiphar’s wife and Delilah. Pardon my tears!

1st Mom

We will go now. Thank you. Come folks; let us step into a later time.

Prompter 

(& Echoes) Goodbye, Abigail!

 

 

1st Mom

Now we meet our 6th Mystery Mom.

6th Mom

Out of my way, vermin!

Prompter

(& Echoes) (Loudly) Wait! Help!

1st Mom

Look out! Watch out for that chariot!

6th Mom

Bow before us, you miserable minions! Bow, I say! We are the royal queen of Israel! How dare you appear in our royal presence wearing such foreign attire!

Priscilla

Goodness! Where are we?

6th Mom

You are in Jerusalem, you fools! The City of David – and of Bathsheba. You have heard of her great allure? Ha! Her beauty does not compare with mine!

1st Mom

Oh! I see idols of Baal everywhere, and filthy images of Asherah!

6th Mom

Of course! The more gods we worship, the more protection we will receive.

Prompter

(& Echoes) Wicked Queen!

6th Mom

Bow, I say! Now!

Prompter

(& Echoes) Don’t do it!

6th Mom

Bow, or I’ll have my husband King Ahab come with the prophets of Baal and cut your heads off!

Prompter

(& Echoes) Help! Help!

1st Mom

Ugly old hag! Run! Quick! Let’s get out of here! Hurry! Let’s move into another time!

Prompter

(& Echoes) Goodbye, wicked queen Jezebel!

 

 

1st Mom

Now we meet our 7th and last Mystery Mom.

7th Mom

Wait, folks! Where are you going? You’re going the way!

1st Mom

No. We’re going to Jerusalem to see its grand temple. Do you live there”?

7th Mom

I live here in Bethany. No one goes to Jerusalem now! Romans are destroying it.

Prompter

(& Echoes) How terrible!

7th Mom

My brother Lazarus is out with Mary fetching our donkeys; we are about to leave, before the Romans annihilate our village, too. I am glad I tidied up the house before you came! My sister Mary leaves stuff strewn all over; her mind is on higher things!

1st Mom

Oh! What are those thunderous crashes I hear?

7th Mom

Catapults. Romans are demolishing the city and the great temple. 

Prompter

(& Echoes) Get away!

7th Mom

Jesus warned us to flee when armies surrounded Jerusalem. We’ll go as soon as Lazarus and Mary return. Romans are slaying even women and children!

1st Mom

How tragic! I read about your godly family, Ma’am. Jesus stayed in your home!

7th Mom

Forty years ago! We knew Jesus well.

1st Mom

What was it like to host Jesus in your home?

7th Mom

I am ashamed that I actually argued with Him! Can you believe it? 

Prompter

(& Echoes) Wow!

7th Mom

He let my sister Mary sit listening to Him while I did all the housework. I also complained to Jesus that He did not come in time, after we sent word that our brother Lazarus was dying.

1st Mom

But Jesus raised him from the dead. News of that spread all over Judea!

Prompter

(& Echoes) Bad leaders hated Jesus.

1st Mom

) Goodbye, Martha.

7th Mom

Goodbye, Priscilla.

1st Mom

We will return home now, folks. This ends our tour. I wish we had time to meet other Bible women who served God, like Esther, Deborah and Dorcas.

Prompter

(& Echoes) And many, many others!