Israel in the Exodus: “It’s Time for a Story!”

Ezrae spoke first, saying,

"What a day, my brother, what a day. The Lord truly provides, even if our people are unruly and disobedient!

Thank The Lord that we have someone like you here to guide us. Else we would have surely perished at the hand of the Pharaoh."

Ezrae finished his statement with a chuckle, and a smile, while shaking his head. The skin on his face showed his age a bit, as the wrinkles formed around his eyes, and the corners of his mouth.

"What a day indeed, Brother Ezrae, but don't thank me, I didn't do anything. I'm not magic, my staff isn't magic, and all of that came through me; from the Father, Yahweh.

In fact I am nearly unremarkable, and your thanks, praise, and dominion should go to The Lord God. Although, I'm sure you, most of anyone, know that QUITE well."

Moses replied, smiling back, and lightly tapping Ezrae on the top of his head with his staff.

"Yes, yes. I know that all glory goes to God, but aside from the power that God uses you as a conduit for, you are, naturally, a great leader, and speaker.

The Israelites follow you because of these things, and because of the great feats Yahweh has done, through you."

Ezrae rubbed his head as he responded to Moses, watching as a mother and her young child walked up to them.

The woman was smiling, and looking grateful, as she took Moses's hand, and kissed it repeatedly. Age continuously praised him and thanked him profusely for his heroic deeds of the day.

Ezrae could see that Moses looked weary, tired, and slightly aggravated, even though he smiled through it, nodding and responding appropriately. Again, redirecting the woman's praises to Father Yahweh.

Ezrae couldn't really blame him; having to lead, teach, and defend this pack of overgrown children, while staying true to the Torah, AND glorifying God.

Moses spent the majority of his life and his time; living, breathing, and consuming the Word of the Lord. "It must be incredibly exhausting, to be a Holy Man, of such high regard." Ezrae quietly thought to himself, hiding his admiration for Moses.

"Ezrae, are you okay? Why are you just staring at me?" Moses looked at Ezrae inquisitively, with slight worry in his eyes.

Ezrae snapped out of it and laughed, saying,

"Oh, I'm fine. Don't you worry me, old friend, this world still has a lot of use for me… Well, for both of us. And so does Father God."

As he finished his statement, a small crowd of children came around the two of them, as chatter erupted the near silence they had been enjoying.

The children grabbed at their robes, excitedly talking and yipping out words of thanks and praise to Moses, who continued to gently redirect their admirations, praises, and compliments to Yahweh.

Ezrae chuckled, and the children all turned on him, sitting at his feet and growing excited and quiet, as every few seconds one of them would say

"Papa Ezrae! Tell us a story!"

Moses smiled at Ezrae and stood up, as more children noticed the gathering, and joined, asking Ezrae to tell them a story.

"Well, little brother; It looks like it is time for you to use the gifts that God gave you. And time for me to rest… 80 is far from young.

And yes, you're correct that this world, and Lord Yahweh, are far from done with me, with the both of us. Ya Talitha, enjoy your story-time, and be kind to Papa Ezrae."

Moses reached down and patted the head of one of the children sitting at the feet of Ezrae; his 7 Year Old grandson, Shebuel; the son of Moses' son, Gershom. The young boy smiled at his grandfather, and Ezrae sighed in awe.

One of the benefits of the staff's blessing is that he could see the auras of the people and creatures of Earth. Shebuel's Aura was bright, pure, and holy; and his love for God was strong; just like his grandfather's.

"Well well well! Se Talitha Yah! Little Children of God! You want to hear a story, hm?" He closed one eye and raised the other eyebrow, sticking his chin out and puffing his cheeks, making a funny face at the children.

They all shrieked in laughter and said, "Yes, Yes! Papa Ezrae! Tell us a story!" Ezrae smiled at the children and took a deep breath.

"Okay, then. I'm going to tell you a story I haven't told in 37 years. This is the story of Genesis. And this isn't Genesis as you know it…

This is the true story of Genesis… or so it's said. This was the first story I ever found, with the use of my handy little staff, here."

He tapped the staff against the ground in front of where he sat, and one by one the initials carved into the wood began to light up. In response, the sand began to kick up in a gentle cyclone around them.

The sand sort of lazily and magically spun and twisted around them like a small tornado. The small crowd of Israelites and their children looked on in awe, as it changed and flowed.

The sands moved silently around the group in streaming tendrils, flying particles, and grainy images; forming moving pictures, and illustrations that matched up with what Ezrae was saying to them.

This was another blessing of the staff; it projected the stories he told onto a medium, (in this case, the sand) so that they could be seen, as well as heard, during their narration. He called it "Projected Visual Expression."

Ezrae began to speak, as he set the stage for the story of Genesis, the first Mortal being.