Promised Land

Click to download as a PDF

Background

This sketch came out of a conversation with a mate with me saying, ‘this would make a good sketch..’ The sketch is taken from Exodus 3:7-9:

The LORD said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey – the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. And now the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them.

Please excuse the ‘slight’ liberties I have taken here…

Zipporah (wife of Moses) and her father, Jethro – sitting around doing general work – looking out and about asking, ‘where’s Moses?’ 

Moses – (bursts in). The Lord has told me he’s going to rescue his people from slavery in Egypt.

Zipporah – Moses, your face is glowing – where are your sandals, they cost a wad of Egyptian dollars from the market, you haven’t lost them again have you. You did put on the sun protection 15 the Egyptian Sun Tan Care Magazine recommends didn’t you?

Moses – Yes, yes, of course. I’m not glowing because of that, I’ve been with the Lord. His holiness is shining from my face.

Zipporah and Jethro (together) – are you sure, that’s amazing, how, wow, where were you, what happened..?

Moses – One at a time. I was after a lost sheep and the Lord appeared to me in a burning bush..

(Zipporah and Jethro exchange concerned glances). Jethro – Moses, have you been on the Reed Wine again?

Moses – No, can’t stand the stuff. No, this is true. I saw a burning bush.

Jethro – Moses son, it was a burning bush because it was on fire. That’s what happens with bushes in the sun that catch fire, they burn.

Moses – No, you don’t understand. The bush was on fire but it didn’t burn up.

Zipporah – So you haven’t been on the Reed Wine, it’s really true. I can tell.

Moses – Yes, it was real.

Jethro – Forgive me for being the one to point out the obvious but I still think you’ve been on the old moonshine..

Moses – No seriously father, the Lord told me that he would give his people freedom from Egypt and lead them into the Promised Land, the land flowing with milk and honey.

Jethro – OK, son, I’m phoning Cairo Hospital. They have people who can help. 

Moses – no, the Lord will use me to lead the people of Israel into the land of milk and honey. 

Jethro – Milk and honey? Forgive an old duffer but it’s hardly a result is it, even if you’re telling the truth. A land of milk and honey? Ooooh, hold me back. I mean if it was a land of gold and fit women, I’d be interested, but milk and honey? What a horrible combination, I mean imagine that for lunch everyday.. 

Zipporah – Father, you’re being out of order here, it’s not a joking matter.

Jethro – Not a joking matter, you’re right. If someone told me I’d be inheriting a promised land of milk and honey, I’d tell them to shove it. Promised land? Hardly. I’d rather stay here. At least my culinary skills would see more of a range of options.

(Mimics a scene). ‘Welcome to the Promised Land restaurant. On today’s menu we have a range of options.. on the drinks menu we have milk wine, honey flavoured milk or milkshake, on the food menu we have cheese, or honey, or honey flavoured cheese. Please take a seat..’

Take a seat, I’d tell the waiter to take a hike..

Moses – Well, believe it or not, I believe it was the Lord. Can I have your permission to take your leave with my wife, your daughter and go to see Pharaoh in Egypt?

Jethro – (pauses) Well, son, if you believe it, you do what you want. I’m going to make some lunch, some nice tasty meat.. 

QUESTIONS

1. What did it take for Moses to leave his comfortable situation and make the trip back to Pharaoh?

2. What does this mean for you? How can we learn from Moses?

3. How did God agree to go with Moses and support him?

4. How does God support us today? How do we hear God’s voice?