The The Battle of Serpents

00:00:00 Speaker 1: Previously on the chosen people. 00:00:03 Speaker 2: Pharaoh will not let you go unless compel by a mighty hand. I will stretch out my hand and strike Egypt with all my wonders. 00:00:17 Speaker 3: Rameses, this is not a request let my people go. 00:00:24 Speaker 4: I do not know this God of yours who is the lord that I should obey. I am the image of Rah, the Lord of the Nile. The sun rises and sets. 00:00:37 Speaker 2: According to my Greinness. I will not let your people go. 00:00:42 Speaker 4: Moses, I do not acknowledge this God of yours. 00:00:48 Speaker 3: Treadlightly, Rameses, The God of the Hebrews will not relent. 00:00:53 Speaker 4: Is that a threat, Moses. 00:00:57 Speaker 5: It is not a threat. Promise. 00:01:01 Speaker 1: Pharaoh did not relent. His decree stood, and the burdens of the children of Israel grew heavier. 00:01:09 Speaker 2: Things have only begotn Mosis, you will see what I will do to Pharaoh. With a strong hand, he will send my children away, and with a shout, he will drive them out of this land. 00:01:32 Speaker 6: When the humble confront the mighty, courage and defiance, take the stage, Cello, my friends, from here in the Holy Land of Israel. I'mya l estein with the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews. Welcome to the Chosen People. Have you ever stood at the edge of a great mystery, the weight of an unknown future pressing down on you. In the heart of Egypt, under the sun's relentless gaze, a shepherd and his armed only with faith and a staff, face Pharaoh's might. What drives a man to challenge an empire although he's armed only with faith? In this ancient drama, Moses and Aaron are called to leave the Israelites from bondage and to confront the unyielding heart of Pharaoh. 00:02:24 Speaker 1: Moses stood by the banks of the Nile, his sandals sunk into the wet earth, His gaze locked upon a solitary stone that jutted from the water. The river surged around it relentless, yet the stone held its ground, defiant against the powerful current. Moses breathed in deeply, the humid air, filling his lungs, and waited for the voice. The reeds whispered in the wind. He heard the voice of the Lord, rustling alongside them, deep and resonant, a sound like thunder from a distant mountain. 00:03:06 Speaker 2: It is time to confront Pharaoh again, not as man, but as God. 00:03:12 Speaker 1: Moses flinched at the words, his eyes narrowing as he tried to grasp their meaning. A god. He had always considered himself a servant, a shepherd, perhaps a prophet if the Lord so willed. 00:03:27 Speaker 2: It, But a god. 00:03:29 Speaker 1: He listened, brow furrowed, his thoughts churning like the river's rapids. 00:03:35 Speaker 2: Pharaoh has refused to respond to me, But he will in time. For now I shall make you like a god to Pharaoh, an adversary. He can see and hear. Your brother Aaron, shall be your prophet. He shall speak and perform wonders on your behalf. He shall tell Pharaoh to let my people go. 00:04:03 Speaker 3: Will Pharaoh truly think of me as a god? He remembers me as a stammering child. 00:04:11 Speaker 2: I will harden Pharaoh's heart. I will show him signs of my power through you. Wonders shall descend upon him like fiery arrows. Yet still he will not listen. But when I lay my hand on Egypt, and the heavenly host descend upon this land, my children will be set free. 00:04:38 Speaker 5: They will know my. 00:04:40 Speaker 2: Name, They will know that I am the Lord. 00:04:46 Speaker 1: The divine voice faded like the wind, leaving Moses alone once more with the sounds of the river. He watched the water surge around the stone, pressing and swirling relentless in its and then before his eyes the stone shifted slowly, at first as if pushed by an invisible hand, and then with a sudden lurch, it rolled from its place and vanished beneath the rapids. 00:05:16 Speaker 2: The river did. 00:05:17 Speaker 1: Not yield, it consumed all within its path. Once again, Moses and Aaron ascended the sandstone steps of Pharaoh's court. The palace loomed above them like a mountain carved by gods, its walls etched with tales of conquest and glory. Moses felt the weight of his staff in his hand, a familiar comfort against the dread that clung to his bones. As they neared the entrance, he turned to Aaron, his eyes hard as flint. 00:05:52 Speaker 3: Remember what we spoke about. You go before Pharaoh and speak to him. I'll remain behind you, discerning the lord's will. A slave giving commands to a god. 00:06:03 Speaker 2: What could go wrong? 00:06:05 Speaker 3: He's no god and you are no slave. You'll learn that soon enough. 00:06:11 Speaker 2: I pray you're right. 00:06:13 Speaker 1: They climbed the final steps to Pharaoh's courtroom, and the guards parted for them. Their spears, crossing to a loud passage. It was clear they had been expected. Pharaoh wanted them there, But for what Moses's mind raced with possibilities? A trap perhaps, No. Pharaoh needed no trap. He had armies, he had prisons. No, this was something else, Moses realized with a cold certainty that settled over him like a shroud. Ramses wanted a challenge. It was not enough to heap more burdens upon the Israelites. He wanted to break Moses himself and prove his divinity by crushing them out who dared defy him. It was like they were children again before Sebet wooden swords poised to spa. 00:07:09 Speaker 3: I was never great sparing. If we're to prevail over Pharaoh, we'll have to take the fight to the ground. 00:07:18 Speaker 1: The palace halls opened before them, and the opulence of Pharaoh's court unfolded like a lavish tapestry. Dancers moved like flowing water, Musicians played flutes and harps that filled the air with haunting melodies, and nobles lounged in their fine silks, eyes sharp with intrigue. Priests and servants hurried about, muttering incantations and delivering offerings to idols, while in the center of it all sat Pharaoh upon his throne, swathed in gold and draped in the aura of a god. Beside him stood Nebermun, the chief priest, whispering words that curled like smoke into Pharaoh's ear. Aaron stepped forward, his eyes ablaze with the fire of the divine Pharaoh. 00:08:11 Speaker 3: Hear the commands of the Lord, Let my people go. 00:08:17 Speaker 1: The words echoed through the chamber, and a hush fell over the court. All eyes turned to Pharaoh, who remained still a stone, his gaze moving from Aaron to Moses. A slight curl twisted at his lips, and he whispered something to Nebermund. The priest's lips curved into a serpentine smile as he raised his chin, addressing Aaron with a voice oiled with arrogance. 00:08:47 Speaker 7: Bold words coming from a slave, You evoke the authority of this unknown guard without any proof of his existence. 00:09:00 Speaker 1: Aaron looked back at Moses as if to ask permission to continue his bold stance against Pharaoh. Moses nodded in approval. Aaron looked forward. 00:09:11 Speaker 2: So it is a. 00:09:12 Speaker 8: Sign you seek, of course, even the lesser priests east. 00:09:17 Speaker 9: Of the Nile can perform signs. You come here demanding something of Pharaoh, with nothing to back up your claims. Pharaoh wishes to see power. 00:09:33 Speaker 3: Careful what you wish for, Pharaoh. 00:09:36 Speaker 1: Aaron lifted his staff, holding it out with hands that did not tremble, and leveled his gaze upon the court. 00:09:44 Speaker 3: Behold the power of the Lord. 00:09:48 Speaker 1: With a sharp motion, he threw his staff to the ground. It struck the polished floor with a clatter, and the room remained still. Then the wood began to writhe twisting and coiling upon itself. Before the eyes of all gathered, it transformed into a serpent, its scales glistening in the dim light. Its fans bared. A low hiss filled the chamber, a sound that sent shivers through those nearest to it. Some of the servants recoiled in fear, but Pharaoh and Neberman remained unmoved. 00:10:26 Speaker 10: Ah, there we have it. 00:10:28 Speaker 9: Your guards can turn tweaks into servants, an amusing trick. 00:10:34 Speaker 1: He clapped his hands, and from the shadows stepped a group of men clad in dark robes, golden scorpions hanging from their necks. Moses recognized the sect they were magicians of the same priests, masters of the secret arts. Neberman's smile widened, stretching across his face like a slash. His voice rose, filled with the arab of one who believed himself beyond reproach. 00:11:03 Speaker 8: If you dare to challenge the image of Ra, the god of the Nile, our favored Lord, Pharaoh. 00:11:12 Speaker 9: You should have come better. 00:11:14 Speaker 5: Prepared the old slaves. 00:11:18 Speaker 3: But a taste of the power of Ra. 00:11:23 Speaker 1: The sorcerers stepped forward, each holding a staff of their own. They bowed low before Pharaoh, and then dropped their staffs to the floor. In their freed hands, they clutched pouches filled with dark sand. As one, they flung the sand over the staffs, chanting in low guttural tones. A cloud of black dust swirled around them, and when it cleared, each starf had become a serpent. The snakes hissed and slipped toward Aaron's, their bodies coiling twisting, ready to strike. Moses glanced stood Rameses and saw a faint smile dancing on his lips. This was what he wanted, to make a spectacle of them, to reduce them to fools in the eyes of his court. But Moses knew better. He had seen the Lord's power, he had felt it coursing through the flames that fateful day they met. Pharaoh had miscalculated. 00:12:25 Speaker 8: You, slates are outmatched. Remember that your twig God has no authority in these hould harms. 00:12:37 Speaker 2: I wouldn't be so sure. 00:12:40 Speaker 1: All eyes turned back to the floor, where the serpents began their deadly dance. Pharaoh's serpents lunched, their fangs flashing like ivory knives. But Aaron's serpents moved with a speed and grace that belied its size. It struck with unerring precision, crushing the heads of the other side than one by one, swallowing the hole. As the coach watched in stun silence, Aaron's eyes met Pharaoh's. 00:13:08 Speaker 3: You may outnumber us, Pharaoh, but your numbers mean nothing to the Lord. It's slight you silence. 00:13:19 Speaker 4: I've heard enough of these games. 00:13:21 Speaker 1: Pharaoh's voice shook the ground. All were silent as Pharaoh turned his chin to Moses. 00:13:29 Speaker 10: These mere tricks will not bend my will, Moses. I will not let your people go. Their burdens will continue to increase until their spines shatter in their whole breaks. They will know that I am Pharaoh, undisputed and unchangeable. My will is final, My resolve is as steady as the stones that built my empire. I am a god God. 00:14:01 Speaker 5: I will not be morphed. 00:14:02 Speaker 3: Do not question my power. 00:14:06 Speaker 1: The hole fell into a deep, tense stillness. All eyes turned to Moses, the former prince, who now stood before Pharaoh, like a shadow of defiance cast against the brilliance of the throne. Moses stepped forward, each footfall heavy with purpose, his hand reaching down to grasp the tail of the serpent that had been Aaron's staff. In his grip, the creature transformed back into a simple rod of wood, and he returned it to his brother without a word. There was a flicker of unease among the briests. Moses could see it in their eyes, a small crack in their confidence, a shift in their posture. Nebermann's gaze darted from the staff back to Moses, his lips twitching, his hands clenching the folds of his robes. 00:14:59 Speaker 5: You only think love power. 00:15:02 Speaker 1: Moses began to pay, slowly, circling the assembled priests and magicians like a wolf circling its prey. His steps were deliberate, his gaze never leaving Pharaoh. 00:15:14 Speaker 3: You think you have power because monuments are built in your image and servants bow at your command. 00:15:21 Speaker 5: You are gravely mistaken. 00:15:25 Speaker 3: Your chariots will fall, your swords will melt, These towers built on the backs of slaves will crumble, And when you finally realize just how powerless you are, it will be too late. 00:15:41 Speaker 2: You deadlatten e God. 00:15:46 Speaker 1: Moses stopped, turning fully to face Rameses. His voice was low, filled with a force that seemed to come from the very earth beneath them. 00:15:56 Speaker 3: I have met the one who alters the wind's course. Are you some wonders both terrifying and glorious. I have heard the voice that separated the mountains from the sea. You think you are a god, Pharaoh, but you are about to meet the one true God, the Alohin, the Great I am, and his name will resound through these halls like a mighty wind, tearing down every idol you have raised in your name. 00:16:25 Speaker 1: Pharaoh's eyes blazed with wrath, his knuckles whitening as he gripped the arms of his throne. Nebermann and the other priests, who are visibly trembling now, but Pharaoh held his ground. 00:16:38 Speaker 2: I am the God of Egypt. 00:16:40 Speaker 1: I am that which was, and is and shall be. 00:16:48 Speaker 4: The storms of my empire are firm beneath me, and my will is unyielding. I will not be moved by the threads of slaves and their desert. 00:17:03 Speaker 1: God. 00:17:05 Speaker 3: Then the Lord shall make his power known to you, Pharaoh, and you will understand that your will. 00:17:12 Speaker 5: Is with a whisper of the storm. 00:17:15 Speaker 1: With those words, Moses turned his back on Pharaoh and walked away, his shoulders straight, his head held high. Aaron followed closely behind, his eyes wide with fear and awe. The court watched them go, the silence hanging heavy in the air, pregnant with unspoken questions, and the lingering echo of Moses' words. As they passed through the hall's great doors, Aaron could not help but ask the question that burned in his mind. 00:17:47 Speaker 2: What will happen now, Moses? 00:17:49 Speaker 3: What will the Lord do next? 00:17:52 Speaker 1: Moses's face was like chiseled stone, his eyes distant. He saw something beyond the palace walls, beyond the mighty city of thieves, something beyond what any mortal man could see. 00:18:06 Speaker 3: Pharaoh's heart is as hard as the stones that built his empire. He's chosen to defy the Lord. 00:18:14 Speaker 5: Now the river will run red, Egypt will tremble under the hand of I Am. 00:18:31 Speaker 6: There's an old Jewish tale about a renowned rabbi who yearned to know who his neighbor would be in heaven. After much fasting and prayer, the rabbi's wish was granted in the form of a dream. In that dream, it was revealed that the rabbi's neighbor in an afterlife would be the town's butcher. At first, the rabbi dismissed the dream as nonsense. How could a simple butcher be his equal? He a holy scholar, a rabbi, I would be a neighbor with a butcher who is just a common man. Yet the dream returned again and again. The rabbi dreamed the same dream until finally he was convinced. So the rabbi sought out the butcher, and what he discovered was a man of unusual kindness and charity. In this butcher, the rabbi found a man truly worthy of being his neighbor for eternity, because he was a good person, because he helped others, because he had a good heart. You see, my friends, we all come into this world with a purpose, a mission that is uniquely ours. But it's not the size of the mission that determines the true greatness of a person. Rather, it's the size of the person that determines the greatness of their mission. In today's Bible story, we encounter Moses and Aaron, two brothers, leading the Israelites out of Egypt. But in verses twenty six and twenty seven, something strange happens. The Bible place Aaron's name before Moses's name, and then it reverses the order, placing Moses's name before Aaron. And we have to ask, because everything in the Bible is so specific, why did this reversal take place. Well, there is a profound truth here taught by Jewish tradition. You see, while Moses had a larger role than Aaron, both were equal in their greatness. Each of them were fulfilling their God given mission. And it reminds us that everyone is sent into the world with a role to play. Some roles are larger and more revealed, others are small and more hidden. Some people are called to be great leaders, while others are called to be chimney sweepers. But the size of the role doesn't matter. What matters is how we fulfill the role that God gives us. Are we doing it with the joy? Are we doing it with thanksgiving? Are we doing it with all of our heart? And we have to ask ourselves, even within our roles, big or small, what's most important is how we treat others in the process of fulfilling our role. That is what determines our greatness in the eyes of God. As the Jewish sages taught, there's nothing more beloved to God than a person who puts all of his heart and soul into fulfilling his mission. But this isn't just a Bible story filled with important lessons. As the Exodus story unfolds, we also find stories full of magic. When Aaron casts his staff to the ground and it becomes a crocodile, the Egyptian magicians are able to do the same thing with their staffs. Back then, magic was something that a lot of people were able to do. But then Aaron's crocodile devours all of the crocodiles of the magicians. What is this strange story of magic and mystery trying to tell us the great thirteenth century rabbi known as Rizkuni offered what he thought God commanded to Moses, and Aaron Riksune said that God told the brothers, when your crocodile devours all of theirs, tell Pharaoh, you and your armies, who have devoured the twelve tribes of Israel and slavery will eventually turn into a dry, dead stick. There's a lesson here for all of us today. Physical force that is used to commit evil is always eventually punished. No ancient ruler was stronger than the Egyptian pharaoh, and no army was more powerful than his. But God didn't just sit back and watch his people being brutalized as slaves. He performed miracles that allowed them to be freed, and then God punished the Egyptians for their reign of terror over the Chosen People. We look around and we see so much evil, But we have to have faith that in our world today, those who are committing the unspeakable evil, especially here in the Middle East, to Jews and Christians alike, they will ultimately suffer the punishment that they deserve. Each day, before I begin my work, I say a simple prayer, Please God, use me as your vessel to bring blessings to the world. This prayer sustains me when I feel overwhelmed, and it humbles me when I succeed. It's a reminder that I am just a tool in God's hand. Without God's help, I'm nothing. But with God's help I can do anything. Every time before I have an interview, I say this verse hashems fata ti f ta rufia ghiti. 00:23:39 Speaker 1: Letter. 00:23:40 Speaker 6: Lord, open up my lips so I can declare your praises. Even our words come from God. In today's story, God instructs Moses to speak to Pharaoh on his behalf to secure the freedom of the children of Israel. But Moses burdened with a speech impediment and felt completely inadequate for such a task. As we explore the Bible each day, isn't this becoming a familiar theme. Don't we often find God choosing the least likely candidates for his most critical work, those with a humble heart, those who are maybe a little bit flawed. He saw that God chose Joseph, who was despised by his brothers, sold into slavery and imprisoned, to be the Prime Minister of Egypt and the savior of his family and his nation. And we'll see God do it again and again. God will choose David, a mere shepherd boy so small he couldn't wear King Saul's armor, to defeat the giant Goliath. God will choose Esther, a quiet, orphan Jewish girl, to become the Queen of Persia and the savior of her people. God's pattern is clear. He often selects those who seem least qualified to fill the most significant roles. He does this to show us that success is not always about our outward talents or abilities. Rather, it's about His power, his ability to choose us and use us. As Zahariyah Zachariah for six declares, not by might nor by power, but by my spirit, says the Lord Almighty. I want to encourage you today to not feel intimidated by tasks that seem too large. If God put it in front of you means that you're able to do it. When God calls you to do something, don't be discouraged by what you think you can't do. With God's help, you can do anything because He's with you. God chooses the willing, not necessarily the able, and as long as we are willing to do what God calls us to do, he will make make sure that we are able to accomplish it. 00:26:03 Speaker 1: You can listen to the Chosen People with Isle Eckstein ad free by downloading and subscribing to the Prey dot Com app today. 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 with Yil Eckstein, edited by Alberto Avilla, narrated by Paul Coltofianu. Characters are voiced by Jonathan Cotton, Aaron Salvato, Sarah Seltz, Mike Reagan, Stephen Ringwold, Sylvia Zaradoc and the opening prayer is voiced by John Moore. Music by Andrew Morgan Smith, written by Bree Rosalie and Aaron Salvato. Special thanks to Bishop Paul Lanier, Robin van Ettin, kayleb Burrows, Jocelyn Fuller, and the team at International Fellowship of Christians and Jews. 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