Pharoah's Revenge

00:00:00 Speaker 1: The Lord will fight for you. You need only to be still. Exodus fourteen fourteen. Dear Lord, you are our defender and our strength. When the enemy seems near and fear begins to rise, you remain steadfast. You fight for us when we cannot fight for ourselves. We confess, Lord, that we often take battles into our own hands. We grow restless and anxious forgetting that victory belongs to you. Teach us to be still, to trust that you are at work even when we cannot see the way forward. Just as you stood between Pharaoh's army and your people, stand between us and the trials that threaten to overtake us. Calm our spirits when chaos surrounds us. Remind us that your timing is perfect and your deliverance sure. When the waters rise, help us remember that you part the sea, You make a way where there is none. You are faithful, mighty and true. 00:01:10 Speaker 2: Amen. Thank you for praying with me today. You're listening to The Chosen People. Remain here for a dramatic story inspired by the Bible. Be sure to follow this podcast so you never miss an episode. 00:01:28 Speaker 3: Previously on The Chosen People. 00:01:32 Speaker 4: At midnight, the Lord will descend upon Egypt. Every firstborn in the land, every first born, from your own son upon this throne to the lowliest slave in the mill, will die. There shall be a cry throughout the land of Egypt, a cry unlike any heard before nor ever will be again. But not a dog shall growl against the people of Israel. You will know, Rameses, You will know who the Lord's chosen people are. A shadow passed through the streets of Egypt, unseen yet felt. It was not the wind, though the curtains moved and the candles flickered in its wake. 00:02:21 Speaker 5: Why my son, ober Mine, come with the words, bring my child back to life. 00:02:33 Speaker 3: Beyond the palace walls, the whales began to rise, one by one, like the growing roar of the sea in a storm. In every house untouched by the blood of the lamb, the first born were found cold in their beds, from the eldest son of the lowiest harmer to the first born calf in the fields. 00:02:55 Speaker 6: Go go, Anti, cry, leave this land, take your floss, your hurts, your children. 00:03:12 Speaker 7: And be gone. And when you go, speak that you are gone. 00:03:21 Speaker 8: Play through him for me, for my people. 00:03:31 Speaker 3: The children of Israel moved as one a tide of humanity, surging into the unknown wilderness. For days, they traveled, their spirits buoyed by the knowledge that they had left Egypt behind. 00:03:44 Speaker 4: Step with hope, children of Israel, much to freedom. 00:03:50 Speaker 9: When Pharaoh refused to bend our God broke him. 00:03:55 Speaker 10: The Lord killed every firstborn son. 00:03:59 Speaker 11: In the land of Egypt for you. 00:04:02 Speaker 12: It is for this reason we redeem our suns. It is for this reason we will sacrifice to the Lord. We are a free people. We are redeemed people. We are the chosen people. 00:04:29 Speaker 10: If we cut through the valley beside the Great Sea will make better time. 00:04:33 Speaker 3: Moses, Aaron, and Miriam stood over a crude map, drawn hastily in charcoal on a strip of light leather. The lines were jagged and uncertain, reflecting the wild unknown that stretched before them. Aaron's finger traced a path along the coastline, skirting the edge of the Great Sea, his eyes flicking to Moses. 00:04:57 Speaker 10: There will be towns on the way to restore our provisions. 00:05:00 Speaker 11: But what of those towns who occupies them? 00:05:04 Speaker 3: Her brow furrowed with concern. She had lived long enough to know that not all men were kind, and the Israelites were a wandering people, vulnerable to the swords of others who would welcome them, a vast horde of displaced slaves. Her eyes turned to Moses, seeking his wisdom. Moses stared at the map, but his mind was elsewhere, listening. The wind stirred, faintly, carrying with it the faint whisper of the Lord, a voice only he could hear, speaking not to his ears, but to his soul. 00:05:42 Speaker 4: We can't take that route. It's the land of the Philistines. They're an unnecessarily violent. 00:05:50 Speaker 11: Brood of people. Their brutality is a ladder of faith soaked in blood of thee They worshiped, through war, through slow It's in their nature. 00:06:04 Speaker 9: The only other way is to go through the wilderness on the banks of the Red Sea. 00:06:08 Speaker 13: It's risky, Moses, We'd. 00:06:10 Speaker 10: Be pinned between the hills and the vast sea. 00:06:13 Speaker 11: Are you sure the Lord has spoken? 00:06:16 Speaker 4: He doesn't want the people to see the violence of Philistia and return to Egypt in fear. 00:06:23 Speaker 9: Very well, I shall rally the people. We will leave succors and immediately head to Ethan. 00:06:29 Speaker 4: Tell each man to be equipped for battle. There's no telling what perils will face on the way to Canaan. The wilderness is treacherous, the path is long. Miriam has heard done what I've asked. 00:06:43 Speaker 3: Moses had instructed her son, her and a dozen others to secure the bones of Joseph. Long ago, Joseph had made the sons of Israel swear to bury him in the land of his forefathers. 00:06:57 Speaker 13: I am about to die, But God but will surely come to your aid and take you up out of this land to the land he proused on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Swear to me that you will carry my bones up from this place when God visits you. When you return to the land promised to us, take me with you. Miriam nodded. 00:07:27 Speaker 5: Her and his sons are keeping his bones in a safe place. Joseph will reach the promised land. 00:07:33 Speaker 11: Good good. We want to honor his memory. He was the one who let our people into Egypt. Now you are leading us out, not I. The Lord is leading us. 00:07:45 Speaker 3: Moses gestured behind him. The pillar of fire that had guided them by night was a pillar of smoke. During the day, Its dark plumes swirled in a powerful, other worldly force. Moses a deep breath and nodded to dismiss Aaron and Miriam. They rallied the people. The Lord was before them, guiding them through the wilderness towards the Red Sea. Day and night. He didn't depart from his people. He was present, powerful and purposely guiding them toward the Red Sea. It was there where God would make his judgment final and seal his deliverance once and for all. That night, Moses heard the Lord whisper in the wind, a warning, a command, a promise. 00:08:37 Speaker 14: Tell the people of Israel to turn back and camp in front of pie Hatharoth, between Migdol and the sea, in front of Bay al Zaphon. You shall camp facing it by the sea. 00:08:51 Speaker 11: Why would I have them facing the sea? 00:08:54 Speaker 14: My works have hardened Pharaoh's heart. He will perceive you are vulnerable, pursue you. 00:09:01 Speaker 11: You're bringing us to him on purpose. 00:09:04 Speaker 14: Why I will have my glory of a pharaoh. He will know that I am the Lord. 00:09:13 Speaker 3: The halls of Pharaoh's court were empty, save for the oppressive darkness that clung to every corner. The only light came from the faint glow of oil lamps, casting flickering shadows on the statues of the gods. The defeated gods who now stood silent and powerless, their eyes blank, their mouths mute. Pharaoh sat upon his throne, his fingers gripping the edges of the stone seat until his knuckles turned white. His blood boiled with rage, and the fire of humiliation smoldered in his chest. From the shadows, Nebermund entered. His tone was careful. 00:09:58 Speaker 15: He Israelite slaves all left. 00:10:01 Speaker 16: Lord Pharaoh. May the scourge of their god leave with them. 00:10:07 Speaker 7: Dogs, every last one of them. I hope they die in the wilderness, abandoned by their god. 00:10:17 Speaker 16: You may be speaking prophetically, Lord Pharaoh. They've encamped at Suko. 00:10:24 Speaker 15: Our spies say they're following the Red Sea coast by Pihirot, and the jagged coast is a foolish place to travel. If the gods recover from this madness. 00:10:37 Speaker 16: They will ensure the Hebrews meet an early grave. 00:10:42 Speaker 7: The Omen to tell me the Israelites are taking the long route between the hills and the sea. Yes, Lord Pharaoh, they're scarrying into the narrows. This will only be a method of time before they're stuck, trapped like fish caught in a jetty. What are you thinking, my King, I'm thinking that we were foolish to let these slaves go. They were meant to be the bricks upon which I built the greatest dynasty this nation has seen. I was too swift to let them go. 00:11:25 Speaker 16: My King, surely you don't mean to pursue them after all that's happened. 00:11:32 Speaker 3: But Pharaoh's eyes were already burning with renewed purpose. He was Pharaoh, the living embodiment of Ra. No god of slaves would defy him and live to tell the tale. 00:11:47 Speaker 7: My forefathers all fought in the wars to expand this mighty kingdom. Some battles were won, and some were lost. 00:11:57 Speaker 8: But the might of Rah and. 00:11:59 Speaker 7: The bright us of his son's never dulled. I am Pharaoh. 00:12:05 Speaker 17: The image of Rah, their unnamed god, may have bested me in a battle, but he will not win the war. Commander's cards ready, My best charioteers. 00:12:20 Speaker 3: The attendants and soldiers hiding in the throne room's shadows leaped into action. Pharaoh's orders sent ripples through the palace, and the sound of armor and weapons clashing filled the air. His eyes gleamed with dark excitement, his breath quickening like that of a predator about to strike ready. 00:12:40 Speaker 7: The six hundred Shawsen chariots armed them with beards, bows and swords. Yes, so, Pharaoh, I will not be bested by the god of slaves. 00:12:52 Speaker 14: This will not be my legacy. 00:12:55 Speaker 8: I will return the Israelites, either bound and rope or with their heads on bikes. The desert will blink. They're blood, and the name of Ramses will be feed for generations. 00:13:21 Speaker 3: Moses, Lord Moses her tripped down the rocky hill and crashed onto the coarse, sandy ground. The young man stumbled forward and sprinted through the multitude of people to get to Moses. The people of Israel were marching the shores of pie Her High wrath Her was sent an envoy to scope the plains ahead of them. Judging by the look on his face, he didn't like what he saw. 00:13:47 Speaker 15: Moses, it's the Egyptians. 00:13:49 Speaker 11: Pharaoh has gathered as chariots in pursuit of us. 00:13:52 Speaker 15: They're encamped on the other side of the canyon. 00:13:54 Speaker 11: Did you built the number of. 00:13:55 Speaker 16: Cherios hundreds, five maybe six by my estimation, All seemed armed with an archer and charioteer. 00:14:02 Speaker 3: Aaron cried out in frustration. He pointed at Moses and then at the Red Sea. 00:14:08 Speaker 10: I told you marching to the Red Sea was unwise, but you didn't listen. 00:14:13 Speaker 9: We are bottlenecked on the shore with no means of escaping. 00:14:17 Speaker 13: What are we going to do? 00:14:19 Speaker 3: Moses didn't match his brother's fear. He responded calmly and with assurance. 00:14:26 Speaker 4: We press on as plan. Don't trouble the people by telling them about Pharaoh. 00:14:32 Speaker 9: He will not overtake this, hoss, You're tempting fate. If we turn back now, we may be able to beat him to the valley. 00:14:41 Speaker 4: We remain on our course. This is the will of the Lord. I you oh very well, Miriam. 00:14:54 Speaker 11: We make sure the women and children make their way to the front. Her join your mother and help her. Aaron remain here with me. 00:15:03 Speaker 3: Moses turned to the canyon that separated the Pharaoh's encampment and the shoreline. There was a wide enough break for all of Pharaoh's armies to come and descend upon them. If Pharaoh marched soon, they would most certainly be trapped. Yet the words of the Lord echoed in Moses's mind. 00:15:24 Speaker 14: I will have my glory over Pharaoh. 00:15:28 Speaker 3: Moses held his staff tightly, his heart beat swiftly in his chest, he had seem too much to doubt God's power, but he was also just a man. He would be a fool to not fear six hundred chariots commanded by a mad king thirsty for his blood. The air inside Pharaoh's tent hung thick, with the acrid scent of sweat and incense, swirling in the humid breeze that slipped through the parted flaps of rich outside. The clamor of warriors, and the grating sound of grinding stone on bronze signaled a growing storm, an army coiled in tense, ready to strike. But here, in the inner sanctum of the Pharaoh's command, all was focussed deadly. Calm. Ramses stood tall in the center, his bare chest gleaming under the soft flicker of lamplight. His skin, bronzed by the relentless sun of comet, glistened with the sheen of sacred oils applied moments before by a trio of servants, each moving with practiced reverence. Their hands trembled slightly as they slipped golden clasps over the fine linen kilt that hung at his waist, fastening it with intricate knots over his muscle torso the ceremonial cairass of hammered bronze was being strapped into. 00:17:00 Speaker 7: Places might get done the turning of the ages. What do you mean to let those dogs live further into the mids? 00:17:09 Speaker 14: What like an old gulf. 00:17:11 Speaker 3: The servants froze for a breath, afraid to move lest they incur the wrath that simmered beneath the pharaoh's words. He scowled at their hesitation, his sharp eyes narrowing, and they scrambled to finish their work, buckling the last pieces of armor with haste. Pharaoh turned his rage, not yet spent. His hawk like gaze cut through the gathered captains and generals that lined the chamber, each armored and braced for his command. 00:17:42 Speaker 13: He towered over them. 00:17:44 Speaker 3: Taller than most, his presence heavy with the weight of millennia of the bloodline of gods. In his hand, he clenched the crooked and flail. 00:17:54 Speaker 7: Six hundreds, six hundred of the finest, the fastest, the most ruthless, chosen from the best. I want them armed and ready with any hour. 00:18:12 Speaker 12: Will be done, Divine one, Your charioteers are the swiftest in all of Egypt. 00:18:19 Speaker 10: They will tear across the sands like a storm. 00:18:24 Speaker 7: They had better the Hebrews flee while we idle here, And each moment they run, their insolence crows. I will see them brought back in chains or dead in the sand. 00:18:43 Speaker 8: Their bones will bleach under the sun. 00:18:48 Speaker 7: A warning to all who think they can defy a god's will. 00:18:54 Speaker 3: Pharaoh's eyes glinted like obsidian, dark and filled with bloodless. 00:19:00 Speaker 7: I cannot bind them as slaves. 00:19:03 Speaker 17: I shall bury. 00:19:04 Speaker 7: Them beneath the dunes. No trace of their rebellion will remain. 00:19:12 Speaker 3: The captain bowed once more, withdrawing, as Pharaoh turned his gaze toward the open tent flap beyond it, the sounds of soldiers preparing for war rumbled like distant thunder, the grinding of chariot wheels, the clatter of spears and shields, and the guttural chance of war songs rising into the night air. Pharaoh's hands clenched around the crook and flail, the wood creaking under the force of his grip. His thoughts burned hotter than the midday sun, swirling with visions of punishment, of retribution. 00:19:49 Speaker 18: My eyes blazing light, I will crush their god and the rebel Crophet Moses, fetch my wat chariot. 00:19:58 Speaker 7: I will ride ahead of the army. 00:20:01 Speaker 3: Ramses stalked across the encampment, each step heavy with intent, eyes gleaming under the golden asp of his war crown. He mounted his chariot and shouted back to the men behind him. 00:20:15 Speaker 18: We ride to retrieve what is ours. And if we find them on the edge of the Red Sea, let them pray to their god. It will do them no good. 00:20:30 Speaker 17: When we have them flaps between our chariots. 00:20:34 Speaker 18: And the abyss, none shall save them from my wrath. They will know that I am Pharaoh. 00:20:46 Speaker 3: Thunder clapped behind Pharaoh. He turned, seeing the heavens churning above. In its rumbling, Pharaoh could feel the God of Israel challenging him, beckoning him. 00:21:00 Speaker 13: For one final battle. 00:21:12 Speaker 3: This prey dot Com production is only made possible by our dedicated team of creative talents. Steve Katina, Max Bard, Zach Shellabarger, and Ben Gammon are the executive producers of the Chosen People, narrated by Paul Coltofianu. Characters are voiced by Jonathan Cotton, Aaron Salvado, Sarah Seltz, Mike Reagan, Stephen Ringwold, Sylvia Zaradoc, Thomas Copeland Junior, Rosanna Pilcher, and Mitch Leshinsky. Music by Andrew Morgan Smith, written by Aaron Salvato, bre Rosalie and Chris Baig. You can hear more Prey dot com productions on the Prey dot Com app, available on the Apple App Store and Google play Store. If you enjoyed The Chosen People, please rate and leave a review,