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Show Me
Scripture:
Genesis 6; Exodus 2:1-10; Hebrews 11
Suggested Topics:
Showing faith; Trusting God
Bible Background:
A well-known story tells of a famous acrobat who announced he would cross Niagara Falls on a tightrope, pushing a wheelbarrow. Naturally, a crowd assembled to watch his feat. "Who believes I can do this?" he asked the crowd. "We do!" was the enthusiastic response. "Who will ride in the wheelbarrow while I push it across?" He asked the assembly. He was greeted with dead silence.
Whether or not the above story is true, it clearly delineates the difference between belief and faith. One can passively believe; but if one has faith, it must be demonstrated. Hebrews 11 tells of the heroes of the faith and what they did to demonstrate their faith. Noah, in faith, built an ark. Abraham left his home in faith, and journeyed to a land he had never seen. Later, in faith, he prepared to offer up his only son as a sacrifice. Moses' parents, in faith, hid him for three months. Moses, in faith, forsook Egypt and his place there as Pharoah's adopted grandson. Rahab, in faith, hid the Israelite spies. In each case, faith moved the person to action. Without demonstration, faith does not exist.
Performance Tips:
- Suggested props: Bible-times costumes, wood for Noah to move, sticks or reeds for Moses' mother to weave.
- Noah should be working confidently; Noah's wife, exasperated with him.
Discussion Questions:
- What is faith? Can you have faith without demonstrating it? Why or why not?
- Read Hebrews 11. What are some ways different Old Testament people showed faith?
- How do we know it is safe to place our faith in God?
- Where are some ways we can demonstrate our faith in God?
CHARACTERS:
- Noah
- Noah's Wife
- Moses' Mother
- Moses' Father
SCENE ONE
(NOAH walks onstage carrying wood. NOAH'S
WIFE enters behind him, talking.)
NOAH'S WIFE: What are you doing?
NOAH: Gathering wood for lumber.
NOAH'S WIFE: I can see that. Why are you gathering
lumber?
NOAH: To build.
NOAH'S WIFE: To build what?
NOAH: An Ark.
NOAH'S WIFE: What's an ark?
NOAH: It's a boat.
NOAH'S WIFE: You've got enough lumber there to build
twenty boats. Why do you want to build a boat, anyway? We
live miles from the beach. Where are you planning to sail
it?
NOAH: I don't have enough lumber. I need enough to
build a coat four hundred and fifty feet long, seventy feet
wide and forty-five feet high.
NOAH'S WIFE: Ridiculous! A boat THAT big could hold
two of every kind of animal on earth!
NOAH: And seven of each of the clean.
NOAH'S WIFE: Clean, unclean-who cares? All I know is,
you're making a mess in the front yard. What will the
neighbor's think?
NOAH: They will think what they wish. Probably
evil.
NOAH'S WIFE: I'll tell you what they'll think.
They'll think, "Noah's really lost it this time. He's gone
over the deep end. One hundred percent bananas."
NOAH: Bananas! Good thinking! They will need
food.
NOAH'S WIFE: WHO will need food?
NOAH: The animals
NOAH'S WIFE: Which animals?
NOAH: The ones in the ark.
NOAH'S WIFE: Stop! (NOAH stops.) Why are you building
this big boat?
NOAH: I TOLD you. To carry two of every kind of
animal. Seven of the clean.
NOAH'S WIFE: But why build it at all?
NOAH: Because God told me to.
NOAH'S WIFE: God told you? Why would HE tell you to
build a huge boat?
NOAH: Because He wants the animals saved.
NOAH'S WIFE: From what?
NOAH: The flood.
NOAH'S WIFE: What flood? There's no water here to
flood!
NOAH: It's coming.
NOAH'S WIFE: From where? (Points.) Look over there.
Do you see any water? Over there? How about over there?
Where is the water? Show me some water.
NOAH: I don't know were the water is. But God said
He's going to flood the earth.
NOAH'S WIFE: How? There's not enough water to flood
the earth!
NOAH: I don't know. God only told me what to do.
That's what I'm doing.
NOAH'S WIFE: (to sky.) After five hundred-odd years,
he's finally gone completely crazy.
NOAH: Back to work. Lots to do before the flood.
NOAH'S WIFE: Where will the water come from? We're on
dry ground. Are you going to tell me there's water under the
ground that will spring up?
NOAH: Perhaps. I don't know.
NOAH'S WIFE: Or maybe water will fall from the
sky?
NOAH: Why not?
NOAH'S WIFE: Because it's never happened before.
That's why.
NOAH: Doesn't mean it won't happen.
NOAH'S WIFE: I give up. (Sarcastically.) Will I have
time to make supper before this flood happens?
NOAH: Oh, sure. Lots to do yet.
NOAH'S WIFE: When you come in, bring some water from
the well with you. If the FLOOD isn't coming today, we'll
need some water brought to the house. (To herself.) Now
there's an idea-have water come into the house so you don't
have to go out and fetch it! NO. Water in a house? It'll
never happen.
SCENE TWO
(FATHER paces frantically; MOTHER calmly
weaves basket throughout scene.)
FATHER: This can't go on any longer. I don't think I
can stand the strain.
MOTHER: The strain?
FATHER: Yes, the strain! Will the baby cry? Will
Pharaoh's soldiers hear?
MOTHER: Oh, that strain.
FATHER: Yes! That strain! For three months. Something
must be done!
MOTHER: I agree.
FATHER: I don't believe this. I'm going crazy and
you're sitting there, calmly weaving reeds. Where's
Miriam?
MOTHER: Gone to get more reeds. I don't have
enough.
FATHER: What are you weaving?
MOTHER: A basket.
FATHER: For what? We're slaves. We don't have enough
of ANYTHING to put in such a big basket.
MOTHER: On the contrary. We have something very
important to put in this basket. Our son.
FATHER: You think putting him into a basket will keep
him safe? The strain has made you even crazier than I
am!
MOTHER: I'm not crazy. Look, we can't keep the baby
quiet all the time.
FATHER: I know this. That's what's making me
crazy!
MOTHER: Sooner or later, Pharaoh's men will hear
him.
FATHER: And when they find we have hidden a male
baby, they'll kill us AND him.
MOTHER: What if they don't find a baby here?
FATHER: You said yourself, they'll find him.
MOTHER: If we trust ourselves, yes. But maybe not, if
we trust God.
FATHER: What do you think we've been doing?
MOTHER: But not fully. Here's my plan. I weave a
basket.
FATHER: To keep your mind off our danger?
MOTHER: Listen. I cover it with tar to make it
waterproof.
FATHER: So the baby won't drown when it rains?
MOTHER: No. So it will float on the river. We give
the baby to God's care.
FATHER: I don't know. It frightens me. He could drown
if any water gets in. He could be found by pharaoh's men and
be killed.
MOTHER: We have trusted God these three months.
Should we stop trusting Him now?
FATHER: You're right. We must have faith. But I would
go crazy, not knowing what has happened to our son.
MOTHER: So would I. But I have an idea.
FATHER: What is it?
MOTHER: Miriam can help me take the basket to the
river. Then she can hide and see what happens. Then she can
come home and tell us.
FATHER: Yes. At least we will know what has happened
to him. But it's so·difficult.
MOTHER: Yes, it's difficult. But if we can't trust
God, whom do you think we should trust.
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