GOD: I am the Lord; tell Pharaoh, King of Egypt all that I say to you. I will make you like a god to Pharaoh with Aaron as your prophet. Aaron will tell Pharaoh to let my people go. But I will harden Pharaoh's heart. I will bring signs and wonders to Egypt but still he will not listen. I will set myself against Egypt and bring my people out with great acts of judgment. Then the Egyptians will know I am the Lord.
Narrator: Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh.
Pharaoh: Moses, what brings you back to Egypt?
Moses: I have come with the purpose of the Lord. The Lord God of Israel has sent me with a message; Let my people go.
Pharaoh: An invisible god has sent you to me, the living god of Egypt. What proof have you that such a god even exists? Narrator: And so the proofs begin?.
Moses: Let the people go.
Reader one: I am the snake of the staff of god. Though Pharaoh's sorcerers also can produce snakes, I will devour them all to prove the strength of the Lord.
Narrator: Seeing his court magicians perform the feat, Pharaoh' heart was hardened and he did not let the people go.
Moses: Let the people go.
Reader two: I am the blood of the Nile. I will kill all of the fish. I will make the water foul. All Egypt will loath to drink me. And though the magicians though black arts can copy me, the people still will thirst.
Narrator: Again, emboldened by his court magicians, Pharaoh's heart did not turn and he did not let the people go. One week passed and again the Lord sent Moses to Pharaoh.
Moses: The Lord says to let my people go, that they might serve me. I will bring forth a plague upon the land. Reader three: I am the plague of frogs. I will creep into the courtyards and the kitchens of Egypt. The magicians will duplicate my plague, yet now Pharaoh will entreat Moses.
Pharaoh: Moses, speak with your god on my behalf. Take away the frogs and you may command me concerning your people.
Moses: Tomorrow. It shall be as you ask, so you will know there is no one like the Lord our God.
Narrator: The frogs died out. When pharaoh saw that there was respite his heart was hardened again and still he did not let the people go.
Moses: Aaron the Lord's anger is great against Pharaoh for his dishonesty. Stretch forth the staff and strike the dust. Reader four: I am the gnats, brought forth by the touching of the staff of God to the dust. I come upon man and beast tormenting them with my presence. The magicians of Pharaoh will try to copy me, to no avail. They knew I was the finger of God, but Pharaoh would not listen.
Narrator: Pharaoh's heart was hardened and he did not let the people go.
Moses: Pharaoh, the Lord has sent me again to ask that you let his people go. Else he will bring forth flies to ruin your land.
Reader five: I am the flies. I will ruin the land of Egypt yet not enter the land of Goshen where live God's chosen. I will set them apart in the eyes of all, Israelites, Egyptians, and Pharaoh.
Pharaoh: Moses, I will let your people worship your god in the land.
Moses: Will your people not stone us for abominations? No. We must travel to the wilderness to serve the Lord. Pharaoh: Make entreaty for me and I will let your people go to worship.
Moses: I will pray, but do not deal falsely again by not letting the people go to worship.
Narrator: The Lord did as Moses asked. Not one fly remained in Egypt. Once again Pharaoh hardened his heart, and did not let the people go.
Moses: Pharaoh, you have lied again. Let the Lord's people go. If you continue to hold them a very severe plague will come upon all Egypt's livestock. Tomorrow will be the day if you do not relent.
Reader six: I am the slaughter. I kill the cattle of Pharaoh and his people. Yet, I will set the Israelites apart. Not one of their cattle shall die. Pharaoh will see this and surely he will relent.
Narrator: Pharaoh did see. Not one of the Israelite's cattle had died. But the heart of Pharaoh was hardened and he did not let the people go.
Reader seven: I am the boils brought forth from the ashes which Moses and Aaron threw to the wind. I cause sores on man and beast. I afflict even the magicians of Pharaoh so that hey cannot stand before me.
Narrator: This time the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart and he did not let the people go.
Moses: Let my people go. Tomorrow the Lord will bring forth hail as has never been seen. Bring into the houses all men and beasts for those not prepared will die.
Reader eight: I am hail, deadly to those who did not heed the warning of god. My lighting flashes as I destroy all the man and beast, plats and trees. I will make Pharaoh understand his sins.
Narrator: Pharaoh pled with Moses to stop the thunder and hail. He agreed to let to let the people go. When the Lord ceased his assault, Pharaoh again hardened his heart and did not let the people go.
Moses: Let the people go.
Reader nine: I am Locusts. Because of Pharaoh's arrogance in the face of the Lord I am released. I blacken the land and sky with shadow. I devour all in my path. I will destroy all of Egypt.
Narrator: The Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart and those of his servants. They did not let the people go. Aaron and Moses: Let the Lord's people go.
Reader ten: I am darkness. Draped over Egypt I bring confusion, lethargy and madness, for no light but that of the Israelites may penetrate my cloak. Surely Pharaoh will concede.
Pharaoh: Go you and your people, young and old, man and woman go out from Egypt to worship. Only leave your livestock here.
Moses: We must take the beasts so that we may have sacrifices to the Lord. We know not what the Lord may require of us until we get there.
Narrator: Pharaoh had hoped to replace his dead and lame livestock with that of the Israelites. Hearing this his heart was again hardened and he did not let the people go. His anger was so great toward Moses he lashed out.
Pharaoh: Get away from me. Take heed not to come near me again, or ever see my face. For the day you see my face you will die.
Narrator: Moses, knowing the portent of the final plague and understanding the pain and suffering he helped to bring upon his former household replied.
Moses: As you say. I will not again see your face.
Narrator: As he turned to leave he could be heard to say.
Moses: (quietly) Please for the sake of all your people and mine, let God's people go.