based on The Book of Exodus, chapters 1 through 4
In which God chooses Moses to deliver his people from bondage and, in extraordinary circumstances, reveals himself in fire.
And it came to pass that they were building vast cities in Egypt. Under the Pharaoh’s orders.
They beat and brutalized thousands of workers to get them to move the huge blocks of stone.
The Pharaoh always needed more workers.
So they made the Hebrews slaves.
And the Hebrews thrived.
The Hebrews are going to take over! said the Egyptians.
Fear and suspicion replaced peace and harmony. Hospitality gave way to hostility.
Until finally, the Pharaoh ordered the murder of all newborn Hebrew males.
He sent out the army with a single order:
Throw them into the Nile!
In those days, the Nile was a pretty busy place.
Crocodiles, fishing boats, fish, and glorious ships.
One day, on the green waters of the river, an odd little box floated by.
It worked its way slowly down through the reeds.
The Pharaoh’s daughter was bathing near the bank.
And saw the little box, going on its way.
Inside, she found a baby boy, crying but alive.
It was a Hebrew child.
The princess saved him from the waters.
She called him Moses and raised him with a nurse in the Pharaoh’s court.
Moses the Egyptian grew up in sight of the suffering of the Hebrews, his true brothers, now enslaved.
And saw that there were two people to whom he belonged.
And it came to pass that he defended a Hebrew being beaten.
And killed the guard who was beating him.
Bad move. Moses had to flee. He went to live with the shepherds and their sheep.
One day while tending his flock, Moses noticed a little bush in flames.
The fire lit the bush and warmed it up.
Here was fire that burned and yet did not destroy!
Instead of killing life, it shed light on it.
Moses, Moses, said the fire.
Here I am, he replied.
Draw not nigh hither, said the voice.
I have heard the children of Israel and their cries. I have seen how they suffer.
I have seen the slavery and the tyranny.
You must say to the Pharaoh: Let my people go.
And there I will be, with you.
To which Moses replied: But who are you?
I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.
It is I, Yhwh.
I AM THAT I AM. The name that saves and frees.
Moses hid behind his face. Now hope had a name.
But he wasn’t sure he could face it—the others would never believe him.
Cast down your staff, said the voice.
And it became a snake.
But the others, in fact, wouldn’t listen, and he didn’t know what else to say.
I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say, said the voice.
