Moses The Fig Tree
Drama
ThespianTheology
Lent/Easter
Perhaps I was too hard on Moses. But you have to admit, Moses was a bit of a whiner:
"I can't do this; I'm a terrible public speaker!"
"Why me? I'm just a flock-tender ... Send somebody else, Lord!"
"How are the Israelites ever gonna believe me when I show up and tell 'em that God sent me?"
... Do you want some cheese with that whine, Moses?
It's a great comfort to me to know that the great heroes of the faith had feet of clay. I'm more comfortable with a whiny, scaredy-cat Moses than with the Charlton-Heston-Moses, whose big voice always sounds like he's trying to make himself heard in an amphitheater without a public address system.
The point is that we are all inadequate to the tasks God sets before us, but God -- the eternal, unchangeable I AM -- is always capable. And God + me = an overwhelming majority.
Just look at ol' whiny Moses!
Cast
Narrator
Moses
Jesus
Props/Costumes
Chair
Potted plant
Moses -- staff
(Narrator is at podium, stage left. Moses is seated at center stage, putting on his shoes. A potted plant is on a stand, stage right)
Moses: Maaan, I don't believe I let him talk me into this! How'm I ever gonna pull this thing off? Why me, in the first place?
Narrator: Well, what have we here? I believe it's my man Moses, fresh from his conversation with a burning bush! What's up, Mose?
Moses: You saw what just happened, didn't you? I let my curiosity get the better of me, and I ended up talking to a bush! (Points to bush at stage right)
Narrator: Well, yes ... But it was really God you were talking to, wasn't it?
Moses: Yeah ... Pretty sneaky of him, if you ask me! Here I am, happily tending my father-in-law's flock and minding my own business -- and the next thing I know, I'm snookered into going down to Egypt and telling Pharaoh to "Let My People Go!" I'm no great orator, no leader of men. How'm I ever gonna pull this off?
Narrator: I believe the Lord answered that question for you, Moses: He will be with you.
Moses: (Points to bush at stage right) So, what am I supposed to do: take the potted plant with me? I'm gonna need some practical help here: God with skin on, know-what'm-sayin'?
Narrator: Hey, Mose! Were you listening when the Lord was talking to you just now? Didn't he say he'd send your brother Aaron the Levite to coach you?
Moses: Oh, yeah ... right. My little brother, Aaron the dweeb! ...
(Jesus enters, down the center aisle)
Moses: ... Good ol' wishy-washy Aaron, who couldn't lead a cub scout troop to the rest room! Great help he's gonna be!
(Jesus arrives at center stage)
Jesus: Unless you repent, you will perish!
Moses: Say what? And who are you, may I ask?
Jesus: I am Jesus of Nazareth.
Narrator: You'd better listen to him, Mose. He's the real deal!
Moses: For sure?
Narrator/Jesus: (Together) For sure!
Jesus: Very truly I tell you, before Abraham was, I AM.
Moses: There it is again: "I AM." What's up with that, anyway?
Jesus: I AM who I AM ... Thus you shall say to the Israelites, "I AM has sent me to you." This is my name forever, and this my title for all generations.
Moses: But what does that mean, Lord?
Jesus: It simply describes my very nature, Moses: eternal and unchangeable. In a world of (Makes quotation marks with fingers) "whatever," where values and morals change like the blowing of the wind, you can find stability and security in a God who never changes, whose power and love are eternal. You can trust me, Moses ... always!
Moses: But what was that you said about perishing unless I repent, Lord?
Jesus: Let me tell you a story, Moses ... A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard. One day, he came looking for fruit on the tree, but he found none. So he said to the gardener, "See here! For three years now, I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil?" The gardener replied, "Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put fertilizer on it. If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, then you can cut it down."
Moses: I'm sorry, but I don't get it, Lord ... What does this have to do with me?
Jesus: It has everything to do with you, Moses. For many years now, God has been preserving and cultivating you, Moses, like a gardener with a fig tree. You were saved from Pharaoh's campaign of infanticide; you were raised in the royal court; you were spared the death penalty for a murder you committed. In fact, like the fig tree, you have taken valuable time and space in God's garden -- and to date, you haven't produced the fruit which I require. I love you, Moses, but your lack of productivity I simply can't tolerate forever.
Moses: So that means...?
Jesus: That means that, unless you repent, you will be cut down, like the fig tree!
Moses: Repent of what, Lord?
Jesus: Repent of your laziness and lack of faith, Moses. Stop hiding behind your inadequacies, and accept the help I offer.
Moses: But the truth is that I am inadequate, Lord!
Jesus: Of course you are, Moses!
Moses: I am?
Jesus: On your own, you are hopelessly inadequate, Moses! That's why I offered you so many resources: I myself will be with you, Aaron will coach you, and my eternal, unchanging power will enable you to perform many miracles. Moses, do you believe that I AM?
Moses: (Kneels) Yes, Lord!
Jesus: Do you want to be a productive fig tree, Moses, or will you be content to be cut down and used for kindling wood?
Moses: Lord, I want to be productive! Forgive me for my feeble faith. Help me to trust you --ato lean on you, and not on my own understanding. Make me the fruitful fig tree you created me to be. Thank you, Lord!
(Jesus helps Moses to his feet)
Jesus: Arise and walk, my son. Go and meet Aaron, and prepare yourselves for the long journey. (Hands Moses the staff) And don't forget your staff; you're going to need it!
(Moses starts to exit stage right)
Jesus: And, Moses ...
Moses: Yes, Lord?
Jesus: Remember: I am with you always ... And my power and my love for you will never change.
Moses: Thank you, Lord! (Exits stage right, shouting) Pharaoh! Let my people go!
"I can't do this; I'm a terrible public speaker!"
"Why me? I'm just a flock-tender ... Send somebody else, Lord!"
"How are the Israelites ever gonna believe me when I show up and tell 'em that God sent me?"
... Do you want some cheese with that whine, Moses?
It's a great comfort to me to know that the great heroes of the faith had feet of clay. I'm more comfortable with a whiny, scaredy-cat Moses than with the Charlton-Heston-Moses, whose big voice always sounds like he's trying to make himself heard in an amphitheater without a public address system.
The point is that we are all inadequate to the tasks God sets before us, but God -- the eternal, unchangeable I AM -- is always capable. And God + me = an overwhelming majority.
Just look at ol' whiny Moses!
Cast
Narrator
Moses
Jesus
Props/Costumes
Chair
Potted plant
Moses -- staff
(Narrator is at podium, stage left. Moses is seated at center stage, putting on his shoes. A potted plant is on a stand, stage right)
Moses: Maaan, I don't believe I let him talk me into this! How'm I ever gonna pull this thing off? Why me, in the first place?
Narrator: Well, what have we here? I believe it's my man Moses, fresh from his conversation with a burning bush! What's up, Mose?
Moses: You saw what just happened, didn't you? I let my curiosity get the better of me, and I ended up talking to a bush! (Points to bush at stage right)
Narrator: Well, yes ... But it was really God you were talking to, wasn't it?
Moses: Yeah ... Pretty sneaky of him, if you ask me! Here I am, happily tending my father-in-law's flock and minding my own business -- and the next thing I know, I'm snookered into going down to Egypt and telling Pharaoh to "Let My People Go!" I'm no great orator, no leader of men. How'm I ever gonna pull this off?
Narrator: I believe the Lord answered that question for you, Moses: He will be with you.
Moses: (Points to bush at stage right) So, what am I supposed to do: take the potted plant with me? I'm gonna need some practical help here: God with skin on, know-what'm-sayin'?
Narrator: Hey, Mose! Were you listening when the Lord was talking to you just now? Didn't he say he'd send your brother Aaron the Levite to coach you?
Moses: Oh, yeah ... right. My little brother, Aaron the dweeb! ...
(Jesus enters, down the center aisle)
Moses: ... Good ol' wishy-washy Aaron, who couldn't lead a cub scout troop to the rest room! Great help he's gonna be!
(Jesus arrives at center stage)
Jesus: Unless you repent, you will perish!
Moses: Say what? And who are you, may I ask?
Jesus: I am Jesus of Nazareth.
Narrator: You'd better listen to him, Mose. He's the real deal!
Moses: For sure?
Narrator/Jesus: (Together) For sure!
Jesus: Very truly I tell you, before Abraham was, I AM.
Moses: There it is again: "I AM." What's up with that, anyway?
Jesus: I AM who I AM ... Thus you shall say to the Israelites, "I AM has sent me to you." This is my name forever, and this my title for all generations.
Moses: But what does that mean, Lord?
Jesus: It simply describes my very nature, Moses: eternal and unchangeable. In a world of (Makes quotation marks with fingers) "whatever," where values and morals change like the blowing of the wind, you can find stability and security in a God who never changes, whose power and love are eternal. You can trust me, Moses ... always!
Moses: But what was that you said about perishing unless I repent, Lord?
Jesus: Let me tell you a story, Moses ... A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard. One day, he came looking for fruit on the tree, but he found none. So he said to the gardener, "See here! For three years now, I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil?" The gardener replied, "Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put fertilizer on it. If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, then you can cut it down."
Moses: I'm sorry, but I don't get it, Lord ... What does this have to do with me?
Jesus: It has everything to do with you, Moses. For many years now, God has been preserving and cultivating you, Moses, like a gardener with a fig tree. You were saved from Pharaoh's campaign of infanticide; you were raised in the royal court; you were spared the death penalty for a murder you committed. In fact, like the fig tree, you have taken valuable time and space in God's garden -- and to date, you haven't produced the fruit which I require. I love you, Moses, but your lack of productivity I simply can't tolerate forever.
Moses: So that means...?
Jesus: That means that, unless you repent, you will be cut down, like the fig tree!
Moses: Repent of what, Lord?
Jesus: Repent of your laziness and lack of faith, Moses. Stop hiding behind your inadequacies, and accept the help I offer.
Moses: But the truth is that I am inadequate, Lord!
Jesus: Of course you are, Moses!
Moses: I am?
Jesus: On your own, you are hopelessly inadequate, Moses! That's why I offered you so many resources: I myself will be with you, Aaron will coach you, and my eternal, unchanging power will enable you to perform many miracles. Moses, do you believe that I AM?
Moses: (Kneels) Yes, Lord!
Jesus: Do you want to be a productive fig tree, Moses, or will you be content to be cut down and used for kindling wood?
Moses: Lord, I want to be productive! Forgive me for my feeble faith. Help me to trust you --ato lean on you, and not on my own understanding. Make me the fruitful fig tree you created me to be. Thank you, Lord!
(Jesus helps Moses to his feet)
Jesus: Arise and walk, my son. Go and meet Aaron, and prepare yourselves for the long journey. (Hands Moses the staff) And don't forget your staff; you're going to need it!
(Moses starts to exit stage right)
Jesus: And, Moses ...
Moses: Yes, Lord?
Jesus: Remember: I am with you always ... And my power and my love for you will never change.
Moses: Thank you, Lord! (Exits stage right, shouting) Pharaoh! Let my people go!
