Monday, April 22, 2013

Pleasing God

IF you could only ask God ONE question- and have it answered instantly… and that was all you could ask… What question would it be?

We had a lesson in class about this not too long ago and I asked the question. My take on it, at least for me, comes down to one question. With the truthful answer—which I’m sure God would give me—I’d know all I needed to know. This morning… Oliver comes in the bedroom while donna and I are getting ready and he’s going on about something. He had been, moments ago, in his chair in the kitchen eating his golden grahams… and we were both under the impression that he was still there. But here he was, holding up his arm and saying something about how “It didn’t work.” We go in the kitchen and – it looks as though he’s used his right forearm as a worn-out windshield wiper on the table. He looks at me as I’m trying to tell him that what he did was not only wrong, but wasteful and he looks at me and I know he’s aware that I’m not happy. --------- kids don’t know. I watch them and I think “It is my job to tell them what is expected out of them. It is my job to teach them how they should act. It is my job- my responsibility. Nobody else’s…ultimately… it’s up to me. If I don’t do it right—there might be major consequences in the future. And I have willingly taken on that role but only in those moments when I look at them and take a moment to think about it and what it means—do I really understand how big a job it is. Remember when Obi-Wan Kenobi was killed by Vader in the first star wars movie. After he was killed he came back at least once a movie and Gave Luke a crucial piece of information that pretty much directed his path afterwards? Remember? Vader strikes Ben down and Luke starts shooting and you hear Ben say, “Run, Luke, Run.” And Luke runs. In Empire, Ben says, “Go see Yoda. On Dagobah. Yoda…. Just go.” Luke goes to Dagobah and Yoda teaches him. In Jedi Ben says: You have to kill your father… oh and Leia’s your sister. Realize what an advantage that is… Imagine snapping your fingers and God shows up and tells you some crucial piece of information… What question would you ask God if you only had One question? And you were guaranteed a truthful answer. This question is going to determine the direction of your life. For me… there is only one question. And I’ve thought about the alternate forms of this question and it all comes down to this question: Is my life—pleasing to you? Now the answer is either Yes or No. IF YES—keep doing what you are doing. That’s pretty simple. Course you can always try to do more, and Paul tells us to do that in his New Testament epistles… but we know that if we are pleasing God now with our lives… if we are living the same way in 30 years we are going to be pleasing then too. If the answer is no… we have a problem. It doesn’t tell us specifically what we have to do to please God… but now we know where we stand with Him. It’s like when you are lost and driving and you think , “I just wish I knew if this was the right way… I have no idea where I’m at… but is this the right way to get to where I need to be to get back on the interstate…”????? Is my life—pleasing to you? It’s a question that lets you know where you stand at the present time. The Baptism of Jesus Matt 3: 13 Then Jesus *arrived from Galilee at the Jordan coming to John, to be baptized by him. 14 But John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I have need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?” 15 But Jesus answering said to him, “Permit it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he *permitted Him. 16 After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him, 17 and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.” Is there any other thing we could want to hear more than God say, ‘I am well-pleased in you’? I cannot think of anything I’d rather hear! In fact-- is it not a variation of what we want to hear in the end: ‘Well done thou Good and faithful servant’? Ephesians 5:6-10 it’s our job to know what is pleasing to God. That’s why we have the bible… we have no excuses 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be partakers with them; 8 for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light 9 (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), 10 trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. If you think about it… not reading your bible to find out what God expects out of you is like not listening to your parents to find out what they deem acceptable behavior. Pleasing behavior. They won’t know what is right. They’ll decide for themselves. I Tim 2:1-4 God just comes right out and gives us things we can do that are pleasing to him… there is no discernment we have to make… God takes the guess work out of it. Verse1… First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. 3 This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. ***To be acceptable in the Greek carries the meaning of being gladly welcomed because pleasing*** In Colossians we find Paul telling us the importance of pleasing god and telling us how to do so… Colossians 1: 9 For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light. And I Thess. chapter 4 speaks of a life that is pleasing to God… and the first verse speaks of what is expected out of us once we achieve a life pleasing to God… Beginning in verse 1… Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more. 2 For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; 4 that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, 5 not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; 6 that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. 7 For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. 8 Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you. 9 Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another, 10 for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more, 11 and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you I wanted to share these thoughts with you. Oliver does things that do not please me. But when I ask his teacher if he was good and they say ‘YES’… I can’t describe how that makes me feel. I’m pleased. I’m filled with hope and encouragement at the possibility that God might feel that way about me…

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

The Blood of Christ

When do we come in contact with it? As I state below… I know that we don’t physically contact it… but it is applied to us. At what point? This is what I will endeavor to answer in this post. The Blood of Christ… It cleanses us from all sin. 1 john 1:7 --- now… does it do that automatically or is there a condition? There is a condition… The beginning of 1 john 1:7 states that: “IF we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ Hi Son cleanses us from all sin.” Also Eph. 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; And Col. 1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 1:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: In both these passages we see that redemption through His blood is how we have forgiveness of sins. And we need that blood because Romans 3:23 says… all have sinned. So we have to have it. Without it, we are lost. If anyone disagrees up to this point, let me know. Now continuing… How do we come in contact with the blood of Christ? First of all, when did He shed his blood. The Cross. Col. 1:20 Now… Hebrews 9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. 9:13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: 9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? The blood of Christ will purge our conscience from dead works to serve the living God. Wait… what’s wrong with our conscience, and what does that have to do with anything?! First of all, Conscience (strongs #4893) : joins moral and spiritual consciousness as part of being created in the divine image. It is an innate discernment, self-judging consciousness. Hebrews 10:1-4 10:1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. 10:2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. ---(here we see that a soul conscious of sins is the main issue. This soul has become conscious of sins due to the self-judging consciousness that has been convicted by the Holy Spirit…)--- 10:3 But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. 10:4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. Here the Hebrew writer asks a question which contrasts the Old Covenant sacrifices with the Sacrifice of Christ. He is speaking of the deficiencies of the Old Covenant sacrifices. In verse 2 he basically asks, “in light of this, wouldn’t they just have to make one sacrifice? That would have taken care of our “conscience of sins”… but the answer is no… because there is a remembrance. Year after year. We still have our conscience of sins. Our sins are still against us. They haven’t been taken care of. This is what is wrong with our conscience------- We have been convinced that we are sinners. Titus 1:15-16 1:15 Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. 1:16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate. Again… a contrast, now between pure and defiled. Their mind and conscience is defiled. They are not pure. Unto these with defiled minds and consciences it is also weighed against them that they profess to know God—but in their works they deny Him. Because their works are abominable, disobedient, etc… So in light of this… This defiled conscience that the lost person has… and in light of how the blood of Christ will purge our conscience from dead works to serve the living God…. How does this happen? Again… is it automatic? Is it when we believe? Some profess to know Him… Titus 1:16 but their works deny Him. So how does this happen? How do we let God know that we want our conscience purified? Do we have to? Do we have to let God know? Or does He do this automatically when we believe or at some other point…? Do we ask God to cleanse our conscience? Can we? NOW… we know that the blood of Christ cleanses us from sins. It washes our sins away. Christ came here to shed His blood. So how do we come into contact with the Blood of Christ? When is it applied to us? I Peter 3: 20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. 21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: The “Answer” mentioned in verse 21 is Strongs Number 1905 and means: inquiry, request, appeal, etc… We are appealing to God for a good conscience--- because we have become convicted that ours is defiled by sin. Baptism is how Peter tells us that our conscience is made “good”. Here, we see that Peter is telling us that Baptism doth also now SAVE us. He did not say that Baptism doth also now NOT save us… He said it doth. But what is the like figure??? He previously was speaking of Noah and the flood. Noah was saved by the water or through the water… the water of the flood, cleansed the earth of all the evil that God had previously looked down upon and saw. Noah was raised above that destruction to safety. Baptism is not a bath. The water does NOTHING. It is not a work of Man’s righteousness, but rather of God’s righteousness. Baptism is a command. Christ commanded it. Baptism is for the remission of sins. We get remission of sins from the shedding of Christ’s blood. He shed his blood on the Cross. Baptism is symbolic of the death, burial, and resurrection. It is in obedience to the command of baptism, that the blood of Christ is applied. It is in the water of baptism that our conscience is made “good” (strongs number 18--- good in that it originates from God.) We come into contact with the blood of Christ when we submit to baptism. Rev. 1: 5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, Now… just to make sure that there is NO confusion on this point… I know that the blood that Christ shed is not going to be poured, splashed, sprinkled, or flicked at me or anyone else… I get that. Not what I’m saying… When I say, “Where we come into contact with the Blood of Christ” I know that may carry a meaning for some that I am emphasizing a physical contact… but I’m not. Let me say it one more time… I know I’m not going to have blood dumped on my like Carrie. But it is not physical. It is spiritual. The actual cleansing of sins doesn’t involve the physical… that is why I said the Water does NUTTIN. But baptism DOES… In being baptized you are submitting to Christ’s command. Christ’s blood cleanses us of sins/ Christ’s blood washes us from our sins. ---baptism is where the sin-cleansing of Christ’s blood is applied to us--- Baptism is for the forgiveness of sins/ remission of sins. Romans 6: 4Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 6Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7For he that is dead is freed from sin.

Monday, May 28, 2012

In Christ?

The promise of life IN CHRIST--- II TIM. 1:1 Partakers of the promise IN CHRIST--- Phil. 1:1 O.T. done away with IN CHRIST--- II Cor. 3:14 Simplicity IN CHRIST--- II Cor. 11:3 The grace of our Lord is IN CHRIST--- I Tim. 1:14 God’s own purpose and grace given IN CHRIST--- II Tim. 1:9 The love of God is for those IN CHRIST--- Romans 8:39 No condemnation for those IN CHRIST--- Romans 8:1 All are one IN CHRIST--- Gal. 3:28 Made nigh by the blood IN CHRIST--- Eph 2:13 Liberty IN CHRIST--- Gal 2:4 Reconciled IN CHRIST--- II Cor. 5:18-19 Sanctified IN CHRIST--- I Cor. 1:2 Call to be saints IN CHRIST--- I Cor. 1:2 Born through the gospel –those that are IN CHRIST--- I Cor. 4:15 Created IN CHRIST--- Eph. 2:10 New creatures IN CHRIST--- II Cor. 5:17 & Gal. 6:15 Made alive IN CHRIST--- I Cor. 15:22 Children of God by faith IN CHRIST--- Gal. 3: 26 Baptized INTO CHRIST--- Gal. 3: 27 Raised up together IN CHRIST--- Eph. 2:6 Redemption IN CHRIST--- Romans 3:24 Salvation IN CHRIST--- II Tim. 2:10 and II Tim. 3:15 The Prize IN CHRIST--- Phil. 3:14

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

The Internal Audit




We're going through an internal audit at work.

For those of you that don't know what that is... it is basically when people come into your worklife and ask you countless questions about what you do and the things you are expected to know.

For example: "Adam, what are the main objectives of your section and how do you ensure that you are meeting those objectives?"

Fascinating, huh?

You are placed under a microscope and then when all the questions are answered (correctly or otherwise) they leave to compile their findings and report their recommendations to Administration.

Sometimes it turns out we're doing good... other times they identify areas of improvement or just areas of flat-out neglect.

Imagine if we had auditors in our Christian lives... Think about that for a minute.

You wake up one morning and you hear people in the living room. you walk out there and they say... "Have a seat... we'll be with you in a minute."

You sit down and they turn to you and say, "Can u tell me the current location of your bible?"

"of the goals you set for yourself over the past year, have you fulfilled them?"

"Do you feel that you succeed in forgiving others? Letting go of anger? Loving your Christian brothers and sisters? All of them… And what about taking an interest in those that have not obeyed the Gospel yet?"

"How would you say that people know you are a Christian? Do you tell people or show them?"

"Have you completed all literature reviews (bible readings) that have been assigned to you since the last audit?"

"Do you have regular meetings (Prayer) with your supervisor?"

"Are you involved in any sub-committees (are you active) at work(in your walk with Christ)?"


I don't think it would be such a bad thing if we audited each other... sometimes we forget. we let things slide. sometimes we think we're doing enough... but then we take a closer look or someone else does for us... and we consider the possibility that their recommendations are valid.

Try a little self audit.

Read Lamentations 3: 39-40.

Saturday, June 11, 2011

Night 1 of Moses...

Night 1—up to the naming of Moses.

Scene 1
Narrator: This story begins where the story of Joseph ends. It has been many years since Joseph saved Egypt and his own family from the famine by interpreting Pharoh’s dreams. A new Pharoh is in Egypt now and he does not remember Joseph. He now looks at the Israelites as a problem. He sees their numbers and might and he is worried…
Exit narrator and scene opens with Pharoh and advisors up on a high place overlooking kingdom.
Pharoh: Look at them! There are so many of them! Look at the strength of their numbers! We have to do something about this!”
Advisor 1: why? What’s the worry?
Pharoh: They are mightier than we are! What if our enemies come to make war with us and the Israelites join them…
Advisor 2: What if we increase their work? I mean really work them hard… Have them build you new storage cities.
Pharoh: That is what we will do. Appoint taskmasters over them to build two storage cities. Call one Pithom and the other Raamses! Work the Israelites harder!
Advisor 1 and 2: Yes, Pharoh!
Advisors Exit.
Close Curtain…
While the curtain is closed, light from the back of the stage will silhouette the action of the Hebrews being worked vigorously by the Egyptians. The sounds of harsh treatment, screaming, whips, crying in pain. Egyptians speak of the glory of pharaoh, and the majesty of his cities and wealth. They yell for the Hebrews to work harder. Slowly fade this scene.




Scene 2
Open Curtain…
Throne room…
Pharoh: WE have failed! The more we afflict them, the more they multiply! The more they spread out!
Advisor 1: I do not know what we can do, mighty Pharoh.
Advisor 2: I see this as a serious threat to us. We must do something to get their numbers under control.
Pharoh: Work them harder! Work them in the fields. In Mortar! In Brick! Break these people down!
Advisor 1 and 2 just stand there…
Pharoh: GO!”
Pharoh: (spoken out to the audience) We must strike at the source of their numbers. I know what we will do. (turning to Guard 1) Bring me the Hebrew midwives!
Guard 1: “Yes, My King!”
Pharoh: (to the audience) I know how to deal with this problem.
Exits stage.
Close curtain.








Scene 3
Open Curtain.
Pharoh on his throne.
Enter Guard 1 and two midwives, Shiphrah and Puah.
Guard1: “The Hebrew Midwives you sent for, my king.”
Pharoh: (to the Guard1) “You may go.”
Guard bows and exits.
Pharoh: “You are the midwives of the Hebrew women?”
Shiphrah: “Yes, Pharoh.”
Pharoh: “I have a command for you. And it shall be carried out immediately.”
Puah: “What is this command, mighty Pharaoh?”
Pharaoh: “When you are helping the Hebrew women to give birth and see them upon the birthstool, if it is a son, then you shall put him to death; but if it is a daughter, then she shall live.”
Midwives look at each other.
Pharaoh: “Do you understand?”
Shiphrah finally answers after a brief silence. “Yes, my king. We understand.”
Pharaoh exits
Puah: Turning to Shiphrah…“We cannot do this!”
Shiphrah pulls Puah off to the other side of the stage (closer to the audience), and speaks as if secretly.
Shiphrah: “We will not do this evil thing, for we Fear God. We will let the boys live.”
Puah and Shiphrah hug each other.
Shiphrah: “But Pharaoh will know the boys are not being killed. What will we do?”
Puah: (looking out to the audience) “Perhaps we can tell him that the Hebrew women are not like Egyptian women--- and they are vigorous and give birth before we can get to them.”
Shiphrah: “That’s it… Great idea. All we have to do is trust in God and He will be good to us.”
Midwives exit as curtain closes.
End Scene
Scene 4
Throne room.
Pharaoh sitting on throne as curtain opens. Officers around his throne. 4 in number (2 on each side).
Pharaoh: “Every time I try to control their numbers, I fail. I fail because I am holding back. The situation is now that I must act in a manner that cannot fail. I have a command for all the people. You will enforce it. Every son who is born you are to cast into the Nile, and every daughter you are to keep alive.”
Officers: “Yes, Mighty Pharaoh!” Exit.
Pharaoh: (stands) Command all the people!
Close curtain.













Scene 5
Enter narrator. (while this is happening major scene change below to the house of Moses)
Narrator: now there was a man of the house of Levi who married a daughter of Levi. The woman conceived and bore a son. And when she saw that he was beautiful, she hid him for 3 months…
Exit narrator.
Open curtain…
Scene Change… House.
Mother working on a basket is on stage near a baby bed. Daughter enters.
Daughter: Mother. What are you doing?
Mother: I can no longer hide him. It is too dangerous for him to remain… what can I do? We will put him in this wicker basket I’ve covered with tar and pitch (show it to the daughter and the audience at the same time). I’ll place it in the Nile. He cannot remain here.”
Mother walks over to the baby bed and picks up the baby and puts it into the basket. She turns to the daughter as she exits. Mother exits. Daughter sits and puts her face into her hands, as if to cry. Then stands and runs out after mother.
Close curtain.









Scene 6
(major scene change: NILE RIVER)
Open curtain.
We have the scene of the basket traveling down the nile into the reeds… basket will be pulled across the stage slowly and rest in the reeds. Moses’ sister is in the reeds watching the basket go down the river… when she hears someone coming… ducks down out of sight.
Enter Pharaoh’s daughter and maid.
Pharaoh’s daughter: “This looks like a good spot to bathe.” She continues to look around…
Maid: “Yes ma’am”.
Pharaoh’s daughter stops for a moment. Looks intently at something. “What’s that along the bank over there?”
Maid: “where? Oh. It looks like a basket.”
Pharaoh’s daughter: makes her way over to it and leans down and opens the basket up. (crying coming from basket now) “It is one of the Hebrew children.”
Moses’ sister runs out from hiding and up to Pharaoh’s daughter: “ Shall I go and call a nurse for you from among the Hebrew women to come and nurse the child for you?”
Pharaoh’s daughter: “Go ahead”
Moses’ sister runs off stage.
Close curtain.
Narrator: So the young girl ran back to tell her mother all that had happened. About how the basket had been found by the Egyptian girl, the daughter of Pharaoh, and how she needed someone to nurse the child. So Moses’s mother came to Pharaoh’s daughter and it was agreed that she would nurse the child and pharaoh’s daughter would pay her wages for this service to her. So the child continued to Grow.




Scene 7
Open curtain:
Pharaoh’s daughter on stage in the palace. Enter the Levi mother with the child (oliver? or older like coen?)
Child walks over to Pharaoh’s daughter.
Mother exits.
Pharaoh’s daughter walks to the middle of the stage and picks up the child. “I will call him MOSES. Because I drew him out of the water.”
End Night 1

Night 3 of Moses

Night 3
Scene 1
Narrator: After explaining all that God had told them and after they had worshiped God, Moses and Aaron came before Pharaoh… Just as God had instructed them.
Curtain opens and Enter Moses and Aaron into Pharaoh’s throneroom where Pharaoh is sitting with a guard nearby.
Moses: “the God of Israel has told us to tell you, ‘Let My people go that they may celebrate a feast to Me in the wilderness.’”
Pharaoh: “Who is this God that I should listen to what he says and let Israel go? I don’t know Him! Besides, I will not let Israel go.”
Aaron: “The God of Israel has met with us. Please let us go 3 days journey into the wilderness that we may sacrifice to the Lord, or He will be angry with us.”
Phar: “Why do you two distract the people from their work?! Get the people back to their labors! Look at how many there are! And you want them to stop working?!”
Moses and Aaron start walking off…
Close curtains.
Open back up … same setting now only Pharaoh and guard.
Pharaoh: (looking out over the audience) “Tell the taskmasters to give the people no more straw to make bricks. They will have the gather the straw themselves, but they still have to make the same amount of bricks. Make the burden harder on the men so they will no longer listen to these false words of Moses and Aaron!”
Guard: “Yes Pharaoh!” exits.
Curtain closes.
{{{ Light from behind the curtain. Enter from one side Hebrew. Enter from the other side the Taskmaster.
Taskmaster: “Pharaoh has ordered that you must gather your own straw from now on. You will still have to make the same amount of bricks.”
Hebrew: “What? Why?”
Taskmasters: “Complete your required work!” Exits.
Hebrews run frantically to get the straw and fall behind.
Re-Enter Taskmaster: “Why have you not completed your work? You didn’t yesterday or today!” Starts whipping the people.
Lights go down}}}}

Curtain opens back to the throne room with Pharaoh on the throne.
Enter foreman of the sons of Israel.
Foreman: “Why are you making us suffer? They don’t give us straw but they still command us to make bricks! We are being beaten because of Your people.”
Phar: “You are lazy. Very lazy. So you say you want to go into the wilderness to worship your God. Get back to work and make your required amount of bricks! There will be no straw!”
Foreman exits.
Curtain closes.



Scene 2
Open curtain. Generic scene background.
Foreman enters and moses and aaron and another Israelite are waiting for him.
Foreman: “We are in trouble!”
Israelite: “What?”
Foreman: “May the Lord judge you for making Pharaoh and his servants angry with us! They’re gonna kill us! Its your fault Moses!”
Moses exits to other side of stage… alone.
Moses: “O Lord, why have you brought this upon your people? Why did you send me here to anger Pharaoh and not deliever your people at all?
God: “ Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh. I will make him let my people go. I will make him drive them from his land.
“I am the Lord. I remember the covenant I made with their fathers. I hear their groaning because of their bondage. Tell the people again that I am their God and I will deliver them out of the land of the Egyptians. They will be my people.”
Moses walks back over to the Israelites…
Moses: “The lord has again said he will deliver you from this affliction you are under.”
Israelites all together: “You’re crazy!”
Israelites exit.
Moses and aaron on stage now.
God: “Go and tell pharaoh to let the sons of Israel leave his land.”
Moses: “My own people won’t listen to me. Why would Pharaoh listen to me? I can’t even speak good.”
God: “Go and tell him to let my people go.”
Close curtain.

Scene 3
Open curtain.
Throne room.
Pharaoh, 2 sorcerers there.
Enter Moses and Aaron.
Pharaoh: “Show me a miracle!”
Moses: “Throw your staff down, Aaron.”
Throws staff down and it becomes a serpent.
The sorcerers do the same.
Aaron’s staff swallows them up. (act this out between pharaoh and sorcerers.)
Pharaoh’s sorceres do the same…
Pharaoh: “MY sorcerers can do these tricks as well!”
Moses points to the ground.
Sorcerer: “Aaron’s staff is swallowing up all of ours!”
Pharaoh storms off and sorcerers runs off after him.
Aaron leans down (gingerly) and grabs the serpent and it is a staff again. Walks off stage opposite Pharaoh.
Moses starts to walk off…
God: “Pharaoh’s heart is stubborn. He will not let the people go. Go to Pharaoh in the morning when he goes out to the Nile, and say to him that I order him to let my people go. But since He has not listened, I will show him that I am the LORD.”
Moses exits.
Close curtain.


Scene 4
Open curtain.
Setting : Nile river
Moses and Aaron there as Pharaoh walks up. Egyptians washing in the water.
Moses: “The Lord has said that by this, you shall know that He is the Lord.” Moses takes his staff and strikes the Nile river…
Egyptian down by the water stands up and arms are covered in blood.
Pharaoh looks at Moses and Aaron and walks away looking back at the Nile and the servants screaming. Then exits.
Moses nods to Aaron and he exits.
Curtain closes.

{{{{ from behind the curtain, backlit scene with Egyptians running around.
Egyptian 1: “The water has turned to blood!”
Egyptian 2: “Even the pools have turned to blood! All the fish have died!”
Egyptian 1: “Oh man it stinks! That smell!
Egyptian 2: “Maybe we can dig down in the ground far enough to get to some water?”
Egyptian 1: “NO! I”ve already tried!
Egyptian 2: “Horrible!!!”
They exit quickly, but safely}}}}

Scene 5
Open curtain on the Throne room.
Moses and Aaron enter to talk to Pharaoh.
Moses: “The Lord commands you to Let His people go. If you refuse, The Lord will smite your whole territory with frogs.”
Pharaoh stands and slowly walks over to his sorcerers… His back to Moses.
A moment passes and moses turns to aaron.
Moses: “Stretch out your hand with your staff over the waters of Egypt and make frogs cover the land of Egypt.”
Aaron exits…
Moses takes one more look at Pharaoh and then follows.
Close curtain.
{{{{ Egyptians screaming about the frogs while the sound effects of the frogs sound over the speakers
They’re everywhere!
They’re in my food! They’re in my bathwater!!! They’re in my bed!!! Make the noise stop!! They’re driving me crazy!!!
}}}}}}}}

Curtain opens in throne room again… Pharaoh and guard ((sound of frogs still going…))
Pharaoh: “Bring me Moses and Aaron!! Fast!!”
Guard: “Yes Master!” runs out…
Pharaoh picks a frog off his shoulder. Puts his hands over his ears.
Moses and Aaron enter with guard.
Pharaoh: “Alright! Tell your God to remove the frogs from the land! I will let the people go! Anything!”
Moses: “According to your word, you will know that there is No One Like The LORD our GOD. The frogs will depart from you and your houses.”
Moses and Aaron walk to the edge of the stage.
Moses: “Oh Lord. Your powerful hand has been seen in this land. Please make the frogs to die and release this land from them.”
Off stage, “They’re dead! All the frogs are dead!!!
Moses looks back at Pharaoh before he and aaron exit.
Close curtain.

Scene 6
Curtain REMAINS CLOSED.
The voice of God: “Moses, Pharaoh’s heart has hardened after the relief of the frogs. Tell aaron to stretch out his staff and strike the dust of the earth that it may become gnats through all the land of Egypt.”
Couple of Egyptians covered in what looks like gnats… sawdust? Gonna need some dedicated Christians for this one… brown spots on face… makeup?
Open curtain.
Enter two Egyptians
Tom: “everytime I breathe I get a mouthful of gnats!”
Joe: “Then breathe through your nose.”
Tom: “I don’t want them in my nose, either!”
Joe: “This is horrible! Someone save us!
Tom: “Pharoahs’ magicians say this is the finger of God!”
Exit.
Close curtain.
The voice of God: “Moses. Go before pharaoh and tell him to let my people go. Tell him that if he refuses, I will send swarms of flies on Him and all Egypt. But I will set aside the land of Goshen, where my people live. They will be spared this plague. I will put a division between my people and the Egyptians. Tomorrow this sign will occur.”
A moment passes and then the sound of flies… lots of flies.
Back light and people running round on stage from behind the curtain. Yelling about the flies.
Sound of the flies continues as people exit and Pharaoh takes his place on the stage.
Curtain opens in throne room again… Pharaoh and guard ((sound of flies still going…))
Pharaoh: “Bring me Moses and Aaron!! Fast!!”
Guard: “At Once!” runs out…
Pharaoh picks a fly off his shoulder. Starts swatting in the air. (like he’s having a psychotic episode)
Moses and Aaron enter with guard.
Pharaoh: “Alright! Tell your God to remove the flies! The land is laid waste because of these flies! Go sacrifice to your God within the land!
Moses: “We must go 3 days journey into the wilderness. WE cannot sacrifice before the eyes of the Egyptians. They will stone us. WE must do as God commands.”
Pharaoh: “I will let you go and sacrifice to your God in the wilderness; only don’t go very far away. Pray to your God for me.”
Moses : “I’m going to leave now and pray to the LORD that the swarms of flies may depart from Egypt tomorrow; but you must not lie as you have done in the past. You must let us go sacrifice to the LORD.”
Moses and aaron exits.
Curtain closes.
End scene.

Scene 7
Curtain REMAINS CLOSED.
The voice of God: “Moses, Pharaoh’s heart has hardened after the relief of the flies. He is not going to let you go as you have told him that I desire. Go to him again and tell him that if he does not let my people go, my hand shall strike a severe pestilence on all the livestock of Egypt. They will all die. But of the livestock of Israel, not one will die. Tomorrow the Lord will do this thing in the land.”
Open Curtain.
Throne room. Pharaoh sitting on his throne.
Egyptian enters with news of the plague.
Pharaoh: “Tell me what you have seen.”
Egyptian: “It is as you know in the land. Everything of the livestock is dead. Cattle, Horses, Donkeys, Camels, Herds and Flocks. And I have also seen the herds of the Israelites, and …
Pharaoh: “Yes?! What about them?!”
Egyptian: “They live. Not one has died.”
Pharaoh: “Be gone.”
Egyptian exits.
Close curtain.
Voice of God: “Moses, take handfuls of soot from a kiln, and throw it toward the sky in the sight of Pharaoh. 9 It will become fine dust over all the land of Egypt, and will become boils breaking out with sores on man and beast through all the land of Egypt.”
Open curtain
Throne room. Pharoah in the corner facing away from Moses. Sorcerers there too.
Enter Moses and Aaron
Moses: “Pharaoh, The lord declares that you let his people go.”
Pharaoh stays silent.
Moses takes the soot and throws it in the air.
Pharaoh turns and is covered with boils and he seems to be in pain… all the sorcerers pull their sleevs up and are covered with boils. {{Off stage people scream in pain.}} Close Curtain. End scene

Scene 8
Open Curtain. Exterior scene with moses
Voice of God: “Behold, about this time tomorrow, I will send a very heavy hail, such as has never been seen in Egypt. 19 Now therefore bring your livestock and whatever you have in the field to safety. Every man and beast that is found in the field and is not brought home, when the hail comes down on them, will die.”
Exit moses…
Curtain REMAINS OPEN
Thunder storm. Sounds. Lightning. Dim lights?

Close curtain.
Open to Pharaohs throne room.
Enter Moses and Aaron
Pharaoh: “I have sinned; the LORD is the righteous one, and I and my people are the wicked ones. Make supplication to the LORD, for there has been enough of God’s thunder and hail; and I will let you go, and you shall stay no longer.”
Moses: “As soon as I go out of the city, I will spread out my hands to the LORD; the thunder and hail will stop so that you will know that the earth is the LORD’S. 30 But as for you and your servants, I know that you do not yet fear the LORD God.”
Moses walks to the front of the stage and holds up his hands and the sound slowly dissipates.
Close curtain.

Open Curtain Same setting ---Throne room with pharaoh and guard and sorcerers…
Enter Moses and Aaron.
Moses: Pharaoh, you have hardened your heart again and refused to do the will of God. If you refuses to let My people go, behold, tomorrow He will bring locusts into your territory. They shall cover the surface of the land, so that no one will be able to see the land. They will also eat the rest of what has escaped—what is left to you from the hail. The houses shall be filled with locusts …something which neither your fathers nor your grandfathers have seen, from the day that they came upon the earth until this day.’
Sorcerers motion Pharaoh over close to them.
Sorcerer1: “How long will this man hold us captive? Let the men go, that they may serve the LORD.”
Sorcerer2: “Look around us…Egypt is destroyed!”
Pharaoh: (walking back over to Moses) “go and serve your God. Who will be going with you?”
Moses: “We shall go with our young and our old; with our sons and our daughters, with our flocks and our herds we shall go, for we must hold a feast to the LORD.”
Pharaoh: “No. Only the men. Go and sacrifice to the Lord. Be gone!”
Sorcerers force Moses and Aaron off stage.
End scene

Scene 9
Voice of God: “ Moses, stretch out your hand over the land of Egypt for the locusts, that they may come up on the land of Egypt and eat every plant of the land, even all that the hail has left.”
Curtain REMAINS closed
Back light as Moses walks to center stage. Raises hands and staff… WIND! Then the sound of Locusts. Loud.
People running around behind curtain as Moses keeps his place.
They’re everywhere!
There’s no plant left alive. Everything is Gone!
They cover the whole earth!

Light goes down and scene is Pharaoh’s throne room. Open Curtain and lights come up.
Moses and Aaron enter.
Pharaoh: “I have sinned against the LORD your God and against you. Now therefore, please forgive my sin only this once, and speak to your God on my behalf, that he would remove this plague from me.”
Moses walks to the front of the stage: “Lord, remove this plague from the land of Egypt. Make the wind to carry away this blight from the land.”

Sound of wind and the sound of the locust disappears.
Close curtain.

The Voice of God: “Moses, I have hardened Pharaoh’s heart and he will not let you go. Stretch out your hand toward the sky, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even a darkness (Z)which may be felt.”
(((Curtain remains closed)))). Moses walks to the center stage behind the curtain, backlit, and raises his hand toward the sky and everything goes dark.
On stage Egyptians speak in the darkness.
Egyptian1: I can’t see anything.
Egyptian2: I’m afraid to move!
Egyptian1: all we can do is lay down. There is no light for anything.
Egyptian2: how long with this last?

Open Curtain to pharaoh’s throne room. Pharaoh standing near stage edge. Front.
Enter moses and aaron.
Pharaoh: “go and serve your lord. Take your little ones with you, but leave your flocks and herds.”
Moses: “we must also take our herds and flocks for the sacrifices. Not one hoof shall be left behind.”
Pharaoh: “Get away from me! Beware, do not see my face again, for in the day you see my face you shall die!”
Moses : “You are right; I shall never see your face again!”
Close curtain.
End night 3

night 2 of Moses

Night 2 – up to the return to Egypt.

Scene 1.
Narrarator: now it came about in those days that Moses grew up. He would sometimes go walking about, observing the Hebrews in their hard labor. But on this day, something happened that would alter the direction of Moses’ life forever.
Narrator exits.
Curtain opens.
Hebrew 1: I can’t carry this another step! I’ve got to set it down and rest!
Hebrew 2: NO! we will be beaten savagely if we do not keep up with the others. These bricks have to be placed down in a certain order and if we are late, that will slow down all the work and the taskmasters will be angry!
Hebrew1: There is no more strength in my arms. I must put it down.
Moses off to the side, listening…
Taskmaster: “YOU THERE!!!” to the Hebrews.
Hebrew 2: “oh no! I told you no good would come of this…”
Hebrew 1: (now lying on the ground) “Can’t go on…”
Taksmaster: (makes his way over to the Hebrews. “on your feet! Back to work!” cracks whip.
Hebrew1: screams in pain from the whip.
Hebrew 2: “Please!”
Taskmaster: “Pick up that brick or die where you lay!”
Hebrew 2 helps 1 up and gets beat himself in the process, but finally both get the brick, picked back up and go on their way.
Taskmaster: “double fast to catch up! I’ll be watching you!”
Moses on the side of the stage… looks to the left and looks to the right and once he is convinced that there is no one around… sneaks up behind the Egyptian and hits him.
The Egyptian falls over and Moses drags him out of the way a little and covers him with sand. *we will use a piece of dropcloth for this*
Then sneaks away after killing the Egyptian.
Close curtain.

Open curtain.
Same setting but now only Hebrews are present. Moses is again watching from off to the side, unnoticed.
Hebrew 1: I just need a minute to catch my breath!
Hebrew2: “In that minute, I got beat too! I’m always picking up your slack.
Hebrew1: “What are you talking about? I pull more than my weight around here! If anyone needs to pick up the pace, its you!
Hebrew 2: “Me! You have got to be kidding. The whole reason we got beaten yesterday is because you didn’t pull your weight!”
Hebrew 1: “beaten? You mean like this?” Hits #2.
Hebrew 2: “No more like this!” Hits #1.
Moses runs out. "Why are you striking your companion?"
The two Hebrews stop their fighting and look at him.
Hebrew 1: "Who made you a prince or a judge over us? Are you intending to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?"
Moses takes a step back and runs off stage.
The two Hebrews exit off the stage still jarring with each other.
After a moment Moses comes back and slowly, cautiously makes his way onto the stage and says: "Surely the matter has become known."
Off stage a voice: “Have you seen the one called MOSES? He is wanted for the death of an Egyptian worker. No? Check in this side of the street… someone get to the next road over and check there! (YES SIR- someone answers).
Moses runs off stage and out the back of the room. Close curtain. End scene.
Scene 2== Midian.
A well is situated off to the side of the stage and Moses runs up to it, exhausted…. Sits down by it.
Enter several daughters with buckets to get water in. preparing to get water from the well…
Enter several shepherds.
Shepherd1: “Git on outta here! Go on!”
Shepherd2: “go back home now! Be gone!”
Daughters look shocked and freeze.
Moses stands up and walks over to the bru-ha-ha and speaks “do not hinder them from getting the water for their flocks.” Turns to one of the daughters and takes the bucket from her hand. Fills the bucket and then another… “Come with me and I’ll help you water your flocks.”
The daughters watch him water the flocks and then run off. Moses shrugs his shoulders and continues.

(_____OFFSTAGE the sisters yell: FATHER! FATHER!!
JETHRO: WHAT ARE YOU DOING BACK SO SOON?? WHAT HAPPENED??____)

The daughters bring Jethro on stage and point to moses.
Daughter1: “Father, there is the Egyptian who delivered us from the hand of the shepherds, and what is more, he even drew the water for us and watered the flock."
Jethro: “Why did you leave him behind? Invite him to have something to eat."
Jethro walks back off stage and the daughters go and bring moses to follow off stage.
Close curtain.



Scene 3
Narrarator: So it came to pass that Moses dwelt in the home of Jethro, the priest of Midian. And Jethro gave him one of his daughters. Her name was Zipporah. And Zipporah gave birth to Moses’ son and he named him Gershom.
And during these many days, back in Egypt, Pharaoh died. The sons of Israel cried out for help because of their bondage.
Behind the curtain(backlit)…. A Child of Israel walks to center stage and prays to God.
“Oh Almighty God hear our cries for mercy! Deliver us from this slavery and bondage! Look upon us and remember us in our time of need! Please help us!”
Everyone raise up from bowing position and start saying: “Please help us!” (repeat 3 times…) lights go down…
Narrator: So God heard their groaning and remembered his covenant with Abraham, Issac and Jacob. God saw the sons of Israel and He took notice of them.

Open Curtain ---back in Midian. Wilderness of Horeb.
Enter Moses with staff and flocks (how we gonna do that?) (staff turns to serpent later)
Moses walks to one side of the stage and the burning bush fires up on the other side of the stage.
Moses (amazed): “I must turn aside now and see this marvelous sight, why the bush is not burned up.”
Moses draws closer, slowly, to the bush.
God: “MOSES. MOSES!”
Moses: “Here I am!”
God: “Do not come near here; remover your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.”
Moses takes off sandals.
God: “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.”
Moses hides his face! Terrified.
God: “I have seen the affliction of My people who are in Egypt and have heard their cries because of the taskmasters. I am aware of their sufferings. I have come down to deliever them from the power of the Egyptians and from that land and deliever them into a good and spacious land that is flowing with milk and honey. A place of the cannanite and the Hittite and the Amorite and the perizzite and the Hivite and the jebusite.
Their cries have come to me and I have seen their oppression.
I will send YOU to Pharaoh so that you may bring my people, the sons of Israel , out of Egypt.”
Moses: “Who am I that I should go before Pharaoh and who am I that I should bring the sons of Israel out of Egypt?”
God: “I will be with you.”
Moses: “So IF I do this and they ask me who it is that has sent me, what do I say?”
God: “I AM WHO I AM. So you say to the sons of Israel that ‘I AM has sent me to you’. Then tell them that the God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob has sent me to you.
“This is my name forever.
“Tell them that I am concerned about them and I see what is being done to them in Egypt. Tell them I will bring them out of this affliction into the land of the cannanite and the Hittite and the Amorite and the perizzite and the Hivite and the jebusite, into a land that is flowing with milk and honey.
“They will listen to you. You all will go before Pharaoh and tell him to let you all go and worship Me, but he will not want to without making demands of his own. So I will stretch out my hand and send Miracles to Egypt and they will know that I am the Lord. They will let you go. You will plunder the Egyptians.”
Moses: “But what if they do not believe me or listen to me? They might say that the Lord as not appeared to me.”
God: “ What is that in your hand?”
Moses: “A staff.”
God: “Throw it to the ground.”
Moses throws it to the ground and it becomes a serpent. Moses runs from it, “Serpent!” he screams.
God: “Stretch out your hand and grasp it by its tail.”
Moses reaches down gingerly and grabs it. Becomes a staff again.
God : “ Now put your hand into your bosom.”
Moses does so. When he pulls out his hand… white and leprous. EYES get big.
God: “Now put your hand back into your bosom again.”
Moses does so. When he pulls it out… restored.
God: “if they will not believe these two signs then take some water from the Nile and pour it on the dry ground. It will be blood on the dry ground.
Moses: “Please Lord, I have never been good at speaking. I am slow in speech and slow of tongue.”
God: “who was it that made your mouth? Or who makes a person mute or deaf or seeing or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? I will be with the words you say from your mouth. I will teach you what you are to say.”
Moses: “Please Lord, now send the message by whoever you will.”
God: “There is your brother, Aaron the levite. He speaks fluently. He is coming to meet you. You will speak to him and put words into his mouth. I will be with the words that you both speak. He shall speak to the people. He will be as a mouth for you and you will be as God to him. Take your staff in your hand. You will perform signs with it.”

Scene 4
Open Curtain. Scene with Moses and Jethro. They’ve been talking…
Moses: “So I must return to my brethren who are in Egypt, and see if they are still alive.”
Jethro hugs moses… “Go in peace”.
Jethro exits and Moses starts to walk off slowly. As he is walking off slowly, God speaks to him .
God: “Go back to Egypt for all the men who were seeking your life are dead.”
Moses exits.

Lights go down…
Lights come back up and Moses and Aaron meet each other in the wilderness.
They hug and aaron kisses moses. (on the cheek)…
Narrator: So Moses told Aaron all the words of the Lord with which He had sent him, and all the signs that He had commanded him to do.
{{{{{ Have moses act some of the stuff that happened. Burning bush and the staff to a snake… then hand turns leprous… taking sandals off… }}}}}
They exit.
Curtain closes.

Scene 5
In Egypt now…
Curtain opens.
Moses and Aaron before the elders of the sons of Israel.
Aaron acts out all the stuff that happened to Moses… Moses just nods during this.
Aaron acts out the burning bush and taking off sandals, and staff to snake, and hand leprous… really throws the staff down and everyone jumps.
Moses: God has seen your affliction and is concerned about you.”
Everyone gets down and bows to God.
End night 2