The People v. The Lord

00:00:00 Speaker 1: Previously on the chosen people. 00:00:03 Speaker 2: And in this way I charge you to explore the land. Go with courage in the name of the Lord, and bring back the fruit of the land and your report, so that I may see the truth of the Lord's promises. Go now, with his blessing and his protection before you, honor your tribes, for you have each been chosen to represent your people. We await your safe return. 00:00:27 Speaker 1: The land was fertile and ripe for their people to thrive, but every mile was filled with adversaries, battle hardened, giant and bloodthirsty adversaries. The spies deliberated about what they were going to report back to Moses and the others. 00:00:43 Speaker 3: There's no way I'm marching into battle against those giants. 00:00:49 Speaker 4: We should go back to Egypt. 00:00:52 Speaker 3: Yes, we should appoint a new leader, one who will lead us back to Egypt as far away from Canaan as we can get. Moses will lead. 00:00:59 Speaker 4: Us the death that we stay with him. 00:01:03 Speaker 5: Stop to stop. 00:01:05 Speaker 6: Are you even hearing yourselves? 00:01:07 Speaker 3: This land is incredible. 00:01:08 Speaker 5: It's better than we imagined. 00:01:11 Speaker 7: The Lord would not lie to us. 00:01:12 Speaker 5: He's bringing us to a land of milk and honey. 00:01:16 Speaker 3: He's not holding out on us. 00:01:17 Speaker 4: Listen, you fools. 00:01:19 Speaker 2: Don't revel against the Lord. Don't be afraid of the people of the land. 00:01:25 Speaker 8: The Lord has taken their protection, for he is with us. Don't be afraid of them, traders. 00:01:34 Speaker 3: Why do you want to see us all dead? Why do you hate Israel? 00:01:39 Speaker 1: Joshua nodded and then closed his eyes as he turned back to face the mob. Caleb did the same, and a blinding light erupted all around him. 00:01:55 Speaker 9: Click the link of the description to grow closer to God. There you'll find daily prayers, Bible plans, sleep stories, and so much more, all on the prey dot com app. Click the link of the description to get started. 00:02:14 Speaker 1: The blinding light of the Lord's presence halted the crowd, and Moses play had cried out in protest, but his voice was not stair chaos. Caleb and Joshua, crumpled and torn, clothed, arms raised, had accepted their fate. They alone had remained faithful to God's promises. Before the monk, which now clutched stones ready to strike, Moses, knew there was no stopping them. The crowd was driven to blind fury by the reports from Cana, but even before God's glory blazed over the scene, Moses says that Israel's faith were was sealed. The Lord's anger had been kindled before for their lack of faithful packing place their idolatry, But to murder the only faithful man the threshold of the promised land would. 00:03:06 Speaker 5: Be the final rebellion. 00:03:08 Speaker 4: The crowds shalls shifted from rage to panic, blinded by the divine item amidst their clime, as if from a great distance us has heard the furious voice of heart easier. 00:03:24 Speaker 6: How long will these people despise me? How long will they not trust in me despite all the signs I have performed among them? 00:03:34 Speaker 3: Please, for I do not know, I don't know why their faith is so weak. 00:03:43 Speaker 6: I will strike them with a plague and destroy them. Shin, I will make you into a great nation, a mightier nation than they are. 00:03:54 Speaker 1: Exasperated, Moses absorbed the Lord's words. How many times had he stood in this very place pleading for mercy? How many more times would he need to do it? Maybe he should let the Lord destroy them. They seemed determined to meet their own ruin. In the blinding white light, Moses felt the presence of the wailing crowd. God was waiting for his answer. But then Moses remembered what could be theirs, all of Israel, if they only kept their covenant. They had pledged to uphold his laws, swearing in blood at the mountain's foot. In return, they would be a great nation, a holy priesthood blessed and set apart. Moses had been charged with leading them toward their destiny. If he gave up now, their failure would become his own. Reluctantly, he knew what his answer must be. Once again, these. 00:04:58 Speaker 2: Don't destroy these people. 00:05:00 Speaker 7: Think of the Egyptians. 00:05:02 Speaker 3: They witnessed your strength when you brought these people out. Mos of your mighty deeds has surely reached the inhabitants of this land. They know, Lord, that you are among these people, that you are seeing face to face, that your cloud stands over them, and that you go before them in a pillar of cloud by day and fire by night. If you strike them down now, the nations who will heard of your fame will will say the Lord could not bring his people in the land he promised, so he slaughtered them in the wilderness. 00:05:37 Speaker 10: How will I rebuild with a new nation? How would those faith would be shaken by the memory of past failures. 00:05:48 Speaker 1: Moses paused, his throat dry and roar with desperation. Despite his anger toward the people, urgency course through him. Time was sure to convince the Lord to show mercy. He couldn't remain suspended in this perilous moment forever. Whatever plea he could make to sway the Lord, he needed to do it now and quickly. 00:06:12 Speaker 11: Please remember your name, yahweh if Amy spoke to me on the mountain. You you're slow to anger and abounding in faithful love. 00:06:31 Speaker 2: You are forgiving of iniquity and rebellion. 00:06:33 Speaker 3: You you promised these things. 00:06:37 Speaker 2: Please pardon the iniquity of. 00:06:39 Speaker 3: These people, according to the greatness of your faithful love, as you have forgiven them from Egypt until now. 00:06:50 Speaker 1: Despite the muffled chaos beyond the dazzling glory of the Lord, Moses' ears rang in attention. He held his breath to see what the Lord's response would be. Several long moments passed, and the Lord finally answered, Moses. 00:07:07 Speaker 6: I will pardon them as you have asked. However, I will not leave the guilty unpunished. 00:07:14 Speaker 1: Moses stepped back in shock. 00:07:17 Speaker 2: They would be barred from entering the promise. 00:07:20 Speaker 6: Yes, they have seen my glory, they have witnessed my provision, yet they still doubt me. For this, they will never see the promised land. The rebellious will never settle in the land I swore to give their ancestors their children will, but they will not. 00:07:44 Speaker 1: Moses grappled to understand the breadth of the Lord's words. 00:07:49 Speaker 12: After all their anguished cries and slavery for hundreds of years, after all the trials in the wilderness, and it would all count to Nothingnce. 00:08:00 Speaker 6: My servant Caleb has a different spirit and has remained loyal to me. I will bring him into the land where he has gone, and his descendants will inherit it. Caleb and his family, as well as Joshua, son of None. 00:08:16 Speaker 1: Moses was still in shock, two would be saved. The two men still kneeling before the murderous crowd before them, halted from certain destruction from this divine vision, the two men who stood firm in their commitment to the Lord's promise, two out of two million. Moses wouldn't allow himself to consider that his brother and sisters names were not mentioned, or even his own. 00:08:43 Speaker 6: I have heard the Israelites complaints against me. Tell them this, All who were counted in the senses twenty years older will die in the desert. I swear that none will enter the Promised Land except Caleb and Joshua. I will bring the children they feared would become plunder into the land they rejected, and they will enjoy it. But the rest their corpses will formed in this wilderness for forty years. Their children will be shepherds here, bearing the penalty of their parents' unfaithfulness, until all their parents' bodies lie scattered one year for each day the spies scouted the land. Forty years. The israel will know my displeasure. I the Lord have spoken. I will do to the entire community that conspired against me. Here in the wilderness. They will meet their end. 00:09:42 Speaker 1: Moses felt the color drain from his face and his body. Gonne, how could. 00:09:48 Speaker 13: I possibly relay this message? 00:09:52 Speaker 6: Tell them what I said, Moses, And since Israel has refused to enter the Promised Land, you will have them turn back. You will all go back into the wilderness in the direction of the Red Sea. There are Amalekites and Canaanites in the land ahead, just as the scouts have reported, but in their disobedience. I will no longer grant victory. What could have been a conquest will now be a retreat. So turn away, turn away, and go back into the wilderness. 00:10:29 Speaker 1: With that, the voice of the Lord concluded, and the all encompassing light faded away and left Moses standing alone before the oblivious and abandoned people of the Lord. The monk that was once violent against Joshua and Caleb were still now the light had shot them into attention. All eyes went to Moses. He was pale and looked as though he would be sick. Despite his advice on stage, Moses rarely looked frail, but the man before Israel looked weak and unsure. Devastation was written all over him. 00:11:10 Speaker 10: Well what is it? 00:11:11 Speaker 3: You were clearly speaking with the Lord. What message do you have for us? 00:11:16 Speaker 4: Moses? 00:11:17 Speaker 1: Moses didn't respond, His face was gaunt, stripped of all vitality. Caleb attempted to give Moses attention more. 00:11:26 Speaker 5: Gently, Moses, were you there? 00:11:29 Speaker 1: Joshua rose to his feet an inched towards Moses. Gently, carefully, Joshua laid a hand on Moses's shoulder. With a whisper, he brought Moses back to the real. 00:11:43 Speaker 5: World, Moses, what did the Lord tell you? 00:11:46 Speaker 1: Moses' bottom lip began to quiver, and his trembling hands grasped at Joshua's arm. 00:11:54 Speaker 3: The Lord. 00:12:02 Speaker 2: Forty years for the years of that exile. 00:12:09 Speaker 1: The crowd began to stir. Shamua was growing impatient. 00:12:14 Speaker 3: What you mean exiled? Aren't we already wanderers? How could it get worse because of your disobedience to it? 00:12:25 Speaker 2: You will not out of the promise land. 00:12:28 Speaker 1: The crowd erupted. At that. They shrank back, ghooled, and cried as Moses told them the rest of the Lord's message. Since they were afraid to go forward and to Canaan, they would get what they wanted to remain in the desert. 00:12:44 Speaker 8: However, only Caleb, son of Jafunah, and Joshua, son of None will see the promised Man. Their faithfulness has sustained him. 00:12:56 Speaker 1: Caleb's mouth fell open in shock. He turned to Joshua and saw his own astonishment reflected in his face. Neither of them could comprehend this reverse of fate. Just moments ago they had prepared to die. This is the judgment award, as if to punctuate the end of his speech, and the finality of his words, the cloud pillar above the tabernacle crackled with foliarity, and thungushook the skies. For the people shrank back further, unable to take their eyes off the sky above. It wasn't until the crying turned to frantic shouting that Caleb tore his own gaze from the churning storm above camp. Caleb's eyes widened in horror as the other ten scouts writhed in pain and scratched viciously of their skin. For some, their skin turned white and splotchy with disease. 00:13:54 Speaker 6: For others, horrible oils and. 00:13:56 Speaker 1: Sails flared as they compulsively tore their open wounds. Whatever malady overtook them and took hold fast. Some collapsed immediately, while others staggered arms, reaching for help, anyone who could help cure them, but the crowd recoiled in fear. Shamois screamed in agony over the Din, help me with wo shamouis, somehow more pitiful than all the others, crawled toward the terrified crowd and called for his mother or wife to help him. Caleb frantically scanned the fallen men, their eyes, unseeing them an upward, turned toward their make up, their expressions pleading for his morse in their final eyes. Caleb's eyes stung with tears as much as their betrayals boldered him. 00:14:49 Speaker 4: He did not wish them dead. 00:14:51 Speaker 1: Here their tortured faces would want him for years to come. Most of the Israelite camp had left Kaydish headed south following the Lord's command, but a group of defiant men had launched a reckless campaign to take Canaan without the Lord's presence or moses blessing. Driven by fear and denial, they ignored God's warning. No news of their fate had reached them yet, only reports of Amelanchite and Canaanite forces mobilizing in the land. Just as the Lord had said, it was only a matter of time before their outcome was known. Aaron and Miriam cast weary glances at Moses, who remained silent at the news. He seemed to be in a comatose state. His eyes glazed over and impassive, gave no signs of him listening. 00:15:45 Speaker 7: I'm worried about him. Erin, he hasn't eaten anything in days. 00:15:50 Speaker 8: He's offered no guidance about the boarder disputes either. 00:15:54 Speaker 1: Joshua's shadows suddenly appeared in the opening of moses tent. He looked pale and fright as he entered, and the three siblings all held their breath as he steeled himself and gave them the news. 00:16:08 Speaker 5: Moses, Aaron Miriam I come with news from the front. But the battles near Canaan. Our army pressed deep into the heart of Canaan. They marched with purpose until the Amalekites descended from the north. The ambush drove a south, scattering soldiers like chaff and the wind. We regrouped and pushed on. We reached the southernmost city of Canaan, but there, against the walls of a rad we were pinned. Canaan Knites defending the city did what the Amalekite started. They crushed us. They chased us out of the land entirely. It was a bloodbath. We're so sorry. 00:16:41 Speaker 1: The siblings waited for Moses to say something, but he remained silent. 00:16:47 Speaker 7: Thank you for the update, Joshua. We will try to relay this news to Moses wherever his mind is at the moment. It isn't here. 00:16:58 Speaker 1: Joshua abowed his head and departed, leaving the three alone again. 00:17:04 Speaker 7: Moses, have you spoken to Joshua yet about his role? 00:17:09 Speaker 1: Moses knew his siblings thought he was entirely checked out, but he marked every word, spoken and unspoken. He listened to Joshua's message, but said nothing and turned away, tuning out his siblings follow up questions. The only thought ringing in his head was. 00:17:31 Speaker 13: So it begins, if every Israelite was to die in this desert, what difference did it make if it was in a hapless battle or infamine or disease? At least thus ventured in the can of this stoomed expedition, seen the promised man, even if it was the. 00:17:54 Speaker 3: Tip of the spear or the edge of a blade before it struck. 00:17:58 Speaker 7: Did you hear what I said, Moses? 00:18:01 Speaker 13: No? 00:18:02 Speaker 7: Have you spoken to the boy? 00:18:04 Speaker 1: Moses frowned again. 00:18:06 Speaker 7: Joshua, Have you spoken to him since the day he came back? No, he loves you. You know you have become a father to him. 00:18:16 Speaker 2: Why why are you telling me this? 00:18:20 Speaker 7: He needs you? They all need you. 00:18:23 Speaker 1: Miriam approached Moses and placed a gentle hand on his elbow. Moses started at the touch. He had been so removed, and detached these last few weeks. They Aaron approached Moses' other side and clasped him firmly on the shoulder. 00:18:41 Speaker 6: The next generation, Moses, they will need us to guide them so they don't make the same mistakes we did. 00:18:49 Speaker 1: Despite his anger, despite his grief, despite his failure, Moses felt his heart start to stir again. 00:18:59 Speaker 6: Come, brother, our people need us. The Lord has not released us from our duty yet. 00:19:06 Speaker 7: Our faith may have faltered, but there's still breath in our lungs. Let us continue what we set out to do. 00:19:14 Speaker 1: Miriam smiled bravely at him and pulled him forward. Moses turned to look at Aaron and saw that he was smiling at him as well. Despite himself, Moses led hope once again, rekindle in his heart. This Prey Dog comproduction is only made possible by our dedicated team of creative talents. Steve Cattina, Max Bard, Zach Shellabager, and Ben Gammon are the executive producers of The Chosen People. Narrated by Paul Coltefianu. Characters are voiced by Jonathan Cotton, Aaron Salvato, 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 bag 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.