The Burning Bush

based on Exodus 3

Parts: Moses, Voice, Hand With Lighter, Sheep (3)

Props: A small plant or shrubbery placed on a table; pencil and paper.

Moses and sheep slowly make their way across stage. At center stage sits the table with the

foliage.

Sheep: Baaa

When Moses and sheep reach center stage, Hand With Lighter pops up from behind the

table, flicking lighter. Moses reacts in fear, sheep scatter.

Moses: WhatÕs going on?! Someone call the fire department!

Voice: Moses! Moses! (Every time Voice speaks, the Hand With Lighter flicks lighter.)

Moses: (looking around) What? What? IÕm r-r-r-r-right here!

Voice: Moses! Take off those shoes. YouÕre walking on holy ground. (Moses takes shoes

off.) Oy! WhatÕs that smell? On second thought, put those shoes back on. Phew!

Moses: S-s-s-s-sorry about that. (Moses puts shoes back on.) Hey, wait a minute. IÕm

talking to a bush. A B-b-b-b-b-burning B-b-b-bush at that! A Burning Bush thatÕs not

really burning. WhatÕs going on here? WhoÕs there?

Voice: (booming voice) I am the God of Abraham and Issac and Jacob; the God of

Sarah, Rebekah, and Rachel.

Moses: (meekly) Oh. (Moses pauses. Then, suddenly, he bolts off the stage, up the

middle aisle to the back of the room.)

Voice: Come back here, IÕm not through with you! (Moses returns center stage,

fearfully.) I have heard the cry of my people in bondage. IÕve heard how bad theyÕre

suffering over there in Egypt. So now IÕm going to deliver them from their bondage, and

set them free. Free to live in a land flowing with Milk and Cookies.

Moses: DonÕt you mean ÑMilk and Honeyâ?

Voice: Whatever. The point is: Moses, youÕre the one IÕm going to use to get the job

done. IÕm going to send you back to Egypt to tell the Pharaohò

Moses: Pharaoh?! Egypt?! Hold it right there, b-b-buddy. The whole reason IÕm here on

this mountain with these sheep is because I had to escape from Pharaoh and from Egypt. I

wanted for murder. IÕd have to be n-n-nuts to go back there.

Voice: Well then, IÕll go with you.

Moses: YouÕre a bush! How can you go with me?

Voice: Forget about the bush; itÕs just a special effect. IÕll go to Egypt with you, and even

though people wonÕt be able to see me, theyÕll be able to see what I can do.

Moses: Okay, letÕs say I go back there and tell my people that the God of their ancestors

sent me. If they want to know your name, what should I tell them.

Voice: hyha r(a hyha. (a-he-YAH a-SHER a-he-YAH)

Moses: (takes out pencil and paper) How do you s-s-spell that?

Voice: It means I AM WHO I AM! If they ask you who sent you, just tell them that I

AM sent youòbecause my name is forever and for all time!

Moses: Okay, IÕll do as you say. But suppose they donÕt believe me when I tell them that

you appeared to me?

Voice: Then IÕll show them some miraculous signs.

Moses: Oh yeah? Like what?

Voice: Tell you what: If they doubt you, show them your shepherds staff, and IÕll turn it

into a snake right before their eyes.

Moses: Cool!

Voice: And if they still donÕt believe you, show them your hand and IÕll make sores

magically appearòsores with oozing puss.

Moses: Cooler!

Voice: And if they still donÕt believe you, get some water from the river, pour it on the

ground in front of them, and IÕll make the water turn into blood right there on the

ground.

Moses: Coolest! You know, this might be a p-p-pretty good deal after all. But,

ummmm, thereÕs one more th-th-thingò

Voice: Yes? WhatÕs that?

Moses: W-w-well, you know. IÕve never, you know, w-w-won any public-speaking awards.

IÕm not m-m-much for talking in front of a crowd. P-p-plus, IÕve got a little bit if a sp-sp-

speech impediment.

Voice: Who makes people talk in the first place?! Who makes the deaf hear or the blind

see?! Me, thatÕs who. Now get going!

Moses: (desperate) No, Lord! Send someone else!!

Voice: Okay, if thatÕs how you want it: IÕll send you and your brother Aaron! Now get

going!!

THE END (Moses, Voice, Sheep, Hand With Lighter all take curtain call.)