Cast
Moses
Random Person
Life
Death
Props
Random Person’s props – big cardboard heart hung around neck, head phones.
Life’s props – scroll with commandments on it or a book, doll(s), giant cardboard footprint.
Death’s props – money, gold idol.
Notes
Consider asking two or three people in the congregation to be stooges so that when Moses, at the end of the play, asks the congregation whether they choose life or death, the stooges know to shout, ‘Life!’
Dialogue
Moses: Hi, my name’s Moses. You may remember me from such speeches as the ten commandments and that time I parted the Red Sea. Apologies for not wearing my usual beard. I’ve just been the barber’s. Today, I’m here on the plains of Moab to share with you some of God’s commands. [Insert name of actor playing random person], would you like to come and help me demonstrate the choices that God has set before us?
Random Person:My pleasure.
[Random Person walks centre stage.]
Moses: [Insert name of person playing Life], will you play the role of Life?
Life: Sure.
Moses: And [Insert name of person playing Death], will you play the role of Death?
Death: Delighted to.
[Life and Death walk on stage – Life is stage left of Random Person, Death is stage right.]
Moses: You see, everyone, I have set before you today life and prosperity … [Life waves at everyone; Random Person looks at Life]
… as well as death and adversity [Death waves at everyone in a dastardly way; Random Person looks at Death].
If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God …
[Life opens scroll and taps on the commandments; Random Person turns towards Life]
… commands that I am giving you today, by loving the Lord your God, walking in his ways
[Life holds up giant cardboard footprint]
… and observing his commandments, decrees, and ordinances … [Life taps on scroll or book again]
… then you shall live and become numerous [Life holds up one doll after another].
The Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to possess … [Life punches the air in triumph].
… But if your heart turns away and you do not hear … [Random Person turns towards Death and puts on headphones]
… but are led astray to bow down to other gods and serve them … [Death waves money and golden idol; Random Person bows to these objects]
… I declare to you today that you shall perish; you shall not live long in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess … [Random Person takes off headphones, looks alarmed.]
… I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have set before you life … [Moses gestures at Life; Life waves; Random Person looks at Life]
… and death … [Moses gestures at Death; Death waves; Random Person looks at Death]
… blessings … [Moses gestures at Life; Random Person looks at Life]
… and curses … [Moses gestures at Death; Random Person looks at Death]
… Choose life so that you and your descendants may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying God, and holding fast to God; for that means life to you and length of days, so that you may live in the land that the Lord swore to give to your ancestors, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.
Moses (addressing congregation): So what do you say? Will you choose life or death?
[Random Person puts on thinking face, Life encourages crowd to shout ‘life’, Death tries to entice people with the money and golden idol.]
Congregation: Life!
Moses: I can’t hear you.
Congregation: Life!
Moses: One more time.
Congregation: Life!
Anyone is free to use this drama with the accompanying credit: © Marianne Musgrove 2020, locustsandwildhoney.net