Speaker 1: Previously on the chosen people.
Speaker 2: Behold yet of your l he had landsis son of fact,
Speaker 2: the edge of all.
Speaker 3: Shows and mother gods, to lead you into.
Speaker 2: A new world and age a power o lordy and
Speaker 2: age when Egypt shall be the.
Speaker 3: Envy of gold, were the.
Speaker 4: Law of us.
Speaker 3: If he is arrive myther the heaven, Hello, Nam will.
Speaker 4: Tramp on me.
Speaker 5: B off.
Speaker 6: Did you see his eyes? There is cold as stones
Speaker 6: said he was cruel. This one, this one is ambitious.
Speaker 6: He will not be satisfied with what his father beat.
Speaker 3: You want more, you want everything.
Speaker 4: Our burden girl heavier.
Speaker 3: I feel it in my bones.
Speaker 4: He will use us until we break, and then he
Speaker 4: will grind our bones to dust to make more pitch. Please,
Speaker 4: my man will be content with mere servitude.
Speaker 3: He will bleed us dry.
Speaker 2: I have seen the affliction of my people in Egypt.
Speaker 7: I have heard.
Speaker 5: Their cries and beheld their suffering.
Speaker 8: I have come to deliver them out of slavery and
Speaker 8: carry them to a land of promise, A vast and
Speaker 8: vibrant land healing with life, a land flowing with milk
Speaker 8: and honey.
Speaker 3: Who am I to do this to the task. I
Speaker 3: am a rogue Egyptian and a former prince. They won't
Speaker 3: follow me there and look good for this, You're the
Speaker 3: wrong man.
Speaker 5: Your brother Aaron walks among the people. He is an
Speaker 5: orator of skill and a man of the people. I
Speaker 5: have already instructed him to meet you. When he sees you,
Speaker 5: it will please his heart. You shall speak to him,
Speaker 5: but he shall proclaim on your behalf. I shall command you,
Speaker 5: and you shall command him. He shall be your.
Speaker 8: Mouth, and you shall be like a god to him.
Speaker 9: When Moses spoke, the fire in his heart mirrored the
Speaker 9: burning bush, kindling Aaron's spirit shallo my friends from here
Speaker 9: in the Holy Land. Welcome to the Chosen People. I'm
Speaker 9: ya l Exstein. With the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews.
Speaker 9: Each day we'll hear a dramatic story inspired by the Bible,
Speaker 9: stories filled with timeless lessons of faith, love, and the
Speaker 9: meaning of life. Through israel story, we find this truth
Speaker 9: that we are all chosen for something great. If you're
Speaker 9: interested in finding out more about the prophetic, life saving
Speaker 9: work of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, you
Speaker 9: can visit our website at IFCJ dot org. What happens
Speaker 9: when two brothers separated by destiny reunite things to a
Speaker 9: divine calling. Have you ever wondered how the paths of
Speaker 9: our lives, though seemingly random, are actually orchestrated by a
Speaker 9: higher purpose. In this week's episode from the Hebrew Bible,
Speaker 9: we encounter the profound and mystical reunion of Moses and Aaron,
Speaker 9: a convergence of fate, prophecy, and stirring whispers from God.
Speaker 1: Aaron pulled his threadbare cloak title trying to shield himself
Speaker 1: from the unrelenting sun that burned down upon the cracked earth.
Speaker 1: His feet, sore and blistered, slipped on the loose stones
Speaker 1: as he climbed the jagged mountain pile outside Goshen. He
Speaker 1: wasn't supposed to be here. He should have been in
Speaker 1: the slave pits with his kin. But a voice had
Speaker 1: called him, clear and commanding, so he had obeyed. The
Speaker 1: voice had come to him in the dead of night,
Speaker 1: a whisper in his dreams, yet it had struck like thunder.
Speaker 5: Go into the wilderness.
Speaker 8: There you will meet your brother Moses.
Speaker 1: At the mountain, Aaron had been two days to ask
Speaker 1: a question in reply. By the time he had the
Speaker 1: wherewithal to respond, he was awake in a cold sweat.
Speaker 1: His weathered hands trembled as he recalled the words Moses,
Speaker 1: his long lost brother was raised in the gilded halls
Speaker 1: of Pharaoh, while Aaron toiled in the mud pits with
Speaker 1: his kin. What could God want with the rejected prince
Speaker 1: of Egypt? And why, after all these years, had they
Speaker 1: chosen to reunite the sons of Amra. Doubt gnaw did
Speaker 1: Aaron's God like a hungry jackal. He had heard the
Speaker 1: whispers among his people, tales of moses flight from Egypt,
Speaker 1: of murder and betrayal. Some claimed he had turned his
Speaker 1: back on his true family, embracing the decadence of the oppressors.
Speaker 1: Others insisted he was a coward fleeing justice for his crimes.
Speaker 1: As Aaron crested a rocky hill, his eyes caught sight
Speaker 1: of a lone figure in the distance. The man moved slowly,
Speaker 1: his gait uneven, wearing the woolen clothes of a shepherd.
Speaker 1: Yet there was something in his bearing, a sense of
Speaker 1: authority that could not be mistaken. Aaron's heart thudded painfully
Speaker 1: in his chest.
Speaker 2: Could it truly be ah Moses?
Speaker 1: The figure turned at the sound of his name and
Speaker 1: In that moment, the years of separation fell away like
Speaker 1: dust in the wind. Aaron did not see the lost
Speaker 1: Prince of Egypt or the rumored murderer. He saw only
Speaker 1: the bright eyed babe he had cradled in his arms
Speaker 1: before setting him adrift on the nile. Without thought, without hesitation,
Speaker 1: he rushed forward, embracing his brother with a fervor born
Speaker 1: of decades of longing. He kissed him on the cheek
Speaker 1: as if he were a child.
Speaker 7: Again, My baby brother, he returned.
Speaker 1: Moses steadied himself, trying to hold back the torrent of
Speaker 1: emotions that threatened to overwhelm him, but he could not.
Speaker 1: He crumbled into his older brother's arms, a mixture of exhaustion, confusion,
Speaker 1: and relief flooding over him like a breaking way. For
Speaker 1: a moment, he felt like a child again, finding refuge
Speaker 1: in the strength of his big brother's embrace. Aaron patted
Speaker 1: his back, holding him close as Moses wept, releasing years
Speaker 1: of pent up anguish in sobs that echoed off the
Speaker 1: stone walls of the mountain. Finally, after what felt like
Speaker 1: an eternity, Aaron spoke, his voice low and tender.
Speaker 2: The God of our forefathers, appeared to me in a dream,
Speaker 2: commanding me to come here and meet you.
Speaker 7: What has happened? Why have you returned? He has a name.
Speaker 3: I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac,
Speaker 3: and the God of Jacob, the Lord.
Speaker 7: He is shown himself to you.
Speaker 3: Yes, he appeared to me in flames of fire. He
Speaker 3: said that he's heard the cries of our people. He
Speaker 3: will defeat Pharaoh and lead them out of this place.
Speaker 1: Aaron pulled back his eyes, searching his brother's face. Gone
Speaker 1: was the smooth skinned baby he had once known. In
Speaker 1: his place stood a man marked by the wilderness, his
Speaker 1: eyes burning with a strange inner fire that both awed
Speaker 1: and unnerved. Aaron, tell me everything. The two retreated to
Speaker 1: the shade of a gnarled acacia tree, where the sun
Speaker 1: could not reach them. As the day he dragged on,
Speaker 1: Moses recounted his encounter with the Almighty. He spoke of
Speaker 1: the bush that burned but was not consumed of a
Speaker 1: staff turned to a serpent, of a hand struck with leprosy,
Speaker 1: and then restored with each pale of divine wonder. Aaron
Speaker 1: felt the walls of doubt inside him crumble, replaced by
Speaker 1: something both frightening and exhilarating.
Speaker 3: And the Lord has chosen you, brother, he says, your
Speaker 3: tongue is silver where mine is bled. You ought to
Speaker 3: be my voice, to speak to our people and to
Speaker 3: Pharaoh himself.
Speaker 1: Aaron chuckled, the idea almost absurd. He broke a dry
Speaker 1: twig between his fingers and tossed it aside, his face
Speaker 1: suddenly serious.
Speaker 2: Miriam and I have been praying for this day. We've
Speaker 2: been praying for deliverance. We've already rallied the people to
Speaker 2: see God most the Lord, but we never imagine what
Speaker 2: it would actually look like when that deliverance came. I
Speaker 2: never thought in a million years that baby TV would
Speaker 2: drift back upstream to save us.
Speaker 7: And yet here you are.
Speaker 3: In the flesh, so you will help me.
Speaker 7: Do I have a choice?
Speaker 3: No, neither of us do. If I'd had it my way,
Speaker 3: I would have remained a midion.
Speaker 2: Oh, my dear brother, Now you know what it's like
Speaker 2: to be a slave.
Speaker 1: The two laughed under the acacia tree. At that moment,
Speaker 1: they both realized the years that had been lost between them.
Speaker 1: Moses gripped Aaron's shoulder, his touch firm yet gentle.
Speaker 3: The Lord will be with us both. You will teach
Speaker 3: us what to say and what to do. We are
Speaker 3: but instruments of his will.
Speaker 1: As the brothers made their way back to the outskirts
Speaker 1: of Goshen, word of their arrivals spread like wildfire through
Speaker 1: the Hebrew encampments. Men and women emerged from their mud
Speaker 1: brick hovels, their faces weary and drawn, etched with suspicion
Speaker 1: and the hard won caution of the opbreast.
Speaker 4: Have you come to be our master again?
Speaker 1: Aaron felt Moses stiffen beside him, and saw the flash
Speaker 1: of pain in his brother's eyes. He knew then the
Speaker 1: true weight of the task ahead, not just to defy Pharaoh,
Speaker 1: but to heal the wounds of a broken people, to
Speaker 1: unite a nation that had been fractured by centuries of suffering.
Speaker 7: Ignore them, they'll come around.
Speaker 3: It's what I expected. I'm not a true Hebrew, Egyptian
Speaker 3: or Midianite. I'm You're chosen.
Speaker 2: I suppose that's what matters most.
Speaker 3: Eh.
Speaker 1: Aaron led Moses through the jagged streets of Goshen, guiding
Speaker 1: him to a small humble dwelling near the Niles banks.
Speaker 1: As they approached, Moses paused, breathing, in the sense of
Speaker 1: pitch and baked bread mingling in the air. He heard
Speaker 1: the reeds whispering in the breeze, and though he had
Speaker 1: no memory of it, a strange familiarity tugged at his heart.
Speaker 3: This was our home, wasn't it? It still is.
Speaker 1: Aaron opened the door. Inside, his wife and children were
Speaker 1: gathered around a low table, sharing a simple meal.
Speaker 2: This is my wife, Elishaba, and my son's naidad by
Speaker 2: who Eliezer.
Speaker 3: And Isamah Elisheba.
Speaker 7: This is my brother Moses, the one I've told you about.
Speaker 3: It is an honor to meet you all.
Speaker 1: Lord Moses, or I.
Speaker 3: Just Moses is fine.
Speaker 1: The tender moment was interrupted by the sound of footsteps
Speaker 1: behind them. A woman appeared in the doorway, her dark
Speaker 1: hair streaked with gray, her thin lips curled into a
Speaker 1: knowing half smile. Moses needed no introduction. Her eyes told
Speaker 1: him everything. This was his sister, Moses, Visus Miriam, our sister.
Speaker 1: Moses opened his mouth to speak, but was quickly interrupted.
Speaker 2: Why are you here, easy, Miriam?
Speaker 4: I want to know why have you returned after all
Speaker 4: these years?
Speaker 2: The God of our ancestors sent him.
Speaker 4: I'm not speaking to you Aaron, I'm speaking to our
Speaker 4: little brother, the royal pup prince of Egypt, the one
Speaker 4: who always knew his heritage, yet did nothing to help us.
Speaker 4: He offered no mercy or charity in our direction. The
Speaker 4: only time he did stand up for us, he made
Speaker 4: a mess and made Pharaoh come down on us harder.
Speaker 4: So I will ask the question again, Moses, why are
Speaker 4: you you here?
Speaker 1: Moses gripped his staff, his jaw clenching against the sting
Speaker 1: of her words. He knew there was truth in her accusations,
Speaker 1: that still they cut deep, poking at the raw pride
Speaker 1: that still lingered from his royal upbringing. He realized at
Speaker 1: that moment just how great a chasm lay between him
Speaker 1: and these people. He needed Aaron's comforting presence, but Miriam's
Speaker 1: harsh prodding honesty might prove just as crucial.
Speaker 3: I am no prince. I am a servant, a servant
Speaker 3: of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. His commands
Speaker 3: brought me here. He is why I have come. I
Speaker 3: didn't want this role. I rejected it at first, but
Speaker 3: the Lord wouldn't let me. And there are no doubts
Speaker 3: you can pose to me that I haven't posed to myself,
Speaker 3: for better or worse. I am the Lord's man. Through
Speaker 3: me and this staff in my grip, he shall deliver you.
Speaker 1: Miriam took a few silent steps forward, me to moses gaze.
Speaker 4: How can we trust that you won't run again? When
Speaker 4: you killed that Egyptian all those years ago, Pharaoh's grip
Speaker 4: became harder.
Speaker 3: I had been met by one who alters the wind's course.
Speaker 3: I have seen his wonders before my eyes. I know
Speaker 3: there's nowhere I can run to where he will not
Speaker 3: find me. It is love and fear that binds me
Speaker 3: to you and to these people.
Speaker 4: We've prayed for deliverance. We've prayed for so long.
Speaker 3: It will come easy, Miriam, But it will come, and
Speaker 3: I'm not leaving.
Speaker 1: Miriam's half smile finally gave way to a full one.
Speaker 1: Cracking the edges of her weathered face. She held Moses's
Speaker 1: face and bent his forehead down to hers.
Speaker 4: Welcome home, brother, I will follow you.
Speaker 1: Moses let out a sigh of relief.
Speaker 7: Let's eat.
Speaker 2: Moses can tell us tales of everything that happened to
Speaker 2: get him here. Then tomorrow we gather the people.
Speaker 1: The crowd was unruly, stirred by Moses' presence.
Speaker 9: How do we know he wasn't sent from Pharaoh to
Speaker 9: spy on us?
Speaker 1: Raising his hands, Aaron called out in a voice that
Speaker 1: carried across the murmuring crowd.
Speaker 2: Brothers, sisters, hear me.
Speaker 1: The din subsided, all eyes turning to the unlighty pair
Speaker 1: standing before them.
Speaker 2: I know the doubts that plague your hearts. They have
Speaker 2: plagued mine as well. But I tell you now the
Speaker 2: God of our fathers has not abandoned us. He has
Speaker 2: sent us a deliverer, one who will lead us out
Speaker 2: of bondage into a land of milk and honey.
Speaker 1: A ripple of whispers passed through the crowd. Aaron pressed on,
Speaker 1: gesturing to Moses.
Speaker 2: This man, my brother in blood and in spirit, has
Speaker 2: been chosen by the Almighty. He has seen wonders and
Speaker 2: heard the very voice of God, and now he brings
Speaker 2: a message of hope to all who will listen.
Speaker 1: As Aaron spoke, he saw the change come over the
Speaker 1: gathered Hebrews. Suspicion gave way to curiosity, and then to
Speaker 1: a tentative hope. When at last he fell silent, Moses
Speaker 1: stepped forward, his eyes shining with unshed tears. He was nervous,
Speaker 1: which gave way to more of his stammering.
Speaker 3: The Lord hath your misery. He has heard your groaning,
Speaker 3: and he remembers his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and
Speaker 3: with Jacob.
Speaker 1: A hush fell over the crowd. As Moses paused, He
Speaker 1: drew a deep breath and steadied himself. He knew that
Speaker 1: they needed more than words. If they were going to
Speaker 1: risk their lives in defiance of Pharaoh, they needed to
Speaker 1: know for certain that the Lord was on their side.
Speaker 1: Moses raised his staff, the gnarled wood gleaming in the
Speaker 1: fading sunlight. With a swift motion, he cast it to
Speaker 1: the ground, and before the astonished eyes of all present,
Speaker 1: it transformed into a writhing serpent. Gasps of awe and
Speaker 1: fear irrupted from the onlookers. Some fell to their knees,
Speaker 1: while others pressed forward for a closer look. Aaron watched
Speaker 1: in amazement as Moses calmly reached down and grasped the
Speaker 1: snake by tale, transforming it once more into a harmless staff.
Speaker 3: This is but a taste of the wonders the Lord
Speaker 3: will perform.
Speaker 10: Through his power, we will be freed from the yoke
Speaker 10: of Pharaoh. Our children, children will tell tales of this day,
Speaker 10: the day when hope.
Speaker 2: Was rekindled in the land of our oppressors.
Speaker 1: As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows
Speaker 1: across the gathered Hebrews, Aaron saw the change in their faces.
Speaker 1: Where once there had been despair and resignation, now burned
Speaker 1: the first ends of faith and determination. They bowed their heads,
Speaker 1: murmuring prayers of thanksgiving and supplication. In the growing darkness.
Speaker 1: Miriam and Aaron turned to their brother, their expressions a
Speaker 1: mixture of gratitude and resolve.
Speaker 4: You have given them home, Now give them freedom.
Speaker 5: I will be your voice. Brother.
Speaker 2: Together we shall shake the very foundations of Egypt.
Speaker 3: And lead our people to the promised Land. And so
Speaker 3: it begins.
Speaker 1: The siblings stood side by side, facing the uncertain future
Speaker 1: that lay before them. The path ahead would be fraught
Speaker 1: with danger, doubt, in the ever present threat of Pharaoh's wrath.
Speaker 1: But for the first time in a generation, the children
Speaker 1: of Israel dared to dream of a life beyond the
Speaker 1: mud pits and whips of Egypt. The eyes of their
Speaker 1: hearts were turned toward Canaan, the land of Abraham, Isaac
Speaker 1: and Jacob, the land flowing with milk and honey.
Speaker 9: Already in our journey through the Bible, we've seen so
Speaker 9: much family draw divisions, reconciliations, feuds, reunions. And now, in
Speaker 9: Exodus four twenty seven to thirty one, we see two
Speaker 9: brothers reunited, Moses and Aaron. God tells Erin to meet
Speaker 9: Moses at Mount Sinai, the spot where God had just
Speaker 9: given Moses his mission to lead the Israelites out of Egypt.
Speaker 9: The two brothers embrace and kiss, and are tasked with
Speaker 9: the redemption from slavery of the Chosen People. The Jewish
Speaker 9: ages see this meeting as a joining of the two
Speaker 9: most important themes for a nation under God, truth and peace.
Speaker 9: Moses represents truth, the one to transmit the word of
Speaker 9: God to the Chosen People, and Arin represents peace. In
Speaker 9: Jewish tradition, he is known as the ultimate peacemaker during
Speaker 9: the Chosen People's forty years in the desert. Both qualities
Speaker 9: are necessary for a godly nation, the truth of God's
Speaker 9: word and peace among human beings, and the launch of
Speaker 9: this tale of redemption had to take place at the
Speaker 9: very spot where God would soon reveal himself and give
Speaker 9: his Torah, the very Bible that we are now studying
Speaker 9: together each day? My friends, how badly do we need
Speaker 9: both of these qualities in our world today? The truth
Speaker 9: of God's word and his shalome his peace, And in
Speaker 9: both the Jewish and Christian traditions, these two ideas are
Speaker 9: what we seek every day, every hour, every minute, truth
Speaker 9: and peace. In this story, we witness a pivotal moment
Speaker 9: where Moses and Aaron reunite, embracing their divine mission. They
Speaker 9: are called to bridge the gap between God and the
Speaker 9: chosen people, much like we are called in our own
Speaker 9: lives to do as it is written in Exodus nineteen six. Quote,
Speaker 9: you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and
Speaker 9: a holy nation end quote. This calling is not just
Speaker 9: about religious risk vituals. It's about shining God's light and
Speaker 9: a world shrouded in darkness. Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heshel once said,
Speaker 9: when I was young, I admired clever people. Now that
Speaker 9: I'm old, I admire kind people like Moses. Our role
Speaker 9: as intermediaries is not defined by our intelligence or eloquence,
Speaker 9: but by our capacity to reflect God. Moses and Aaron
Speaker 9: faced rejection and skepticism from their very own people. And
Speaker 9: this echoes the experience of many who have come before us,
Speaker 9: people with noble intentions, who are often misunderstood and even
Speaker 9: opposed by those that they sought to save. In this
Speaker 9: we find a very profound truth that following the path
Speaker 9: of righteousness often means walking a road marked by resistance.
Speaker 9: How many of the people that we look at as
Speaker 9: holy and historically changing the world for better were rejected
Speaker 9: in their life, but they walked through it. They were
Speaker 9: committed to fulfilling their mission in this world. And it's
Speaker 9: through a struggle sometimes that we also truly connect with
Speaker 9: our purpose. Jewish tradition teaches us that true service to
Speaker 9: God is not without challenges. It's actually through these trials
Speaker 9: that our faith is tested and strengthened. Now, how does
Speaker 9: this ancient story speak to us today. First, it reminds
Speaker 9: us that we too are called to be bridge builders
Speaker 9: in our communities. My Abba, my father, Rabbi Riel Ekstein
Speaker 9: of Blessed Memory, was a bridge builder through the International
Speaker 9: Fellowship of Christians and Jews. His calling was to build
Speaker 9: bridges of understanding and true friendship between Christians and Jews.
Speaker 9: It's the work that I am so honored and privileged
Speaker 9: to continue today at the Fellowship. And what I see
Speaker 9: is that we can all be bridge builders in our
Speaker 9: own ways, whether in our workplaces, schools, or neighborhoods. We
Speaker 9: can shine our lights reflecting God's goodness and mercy. Just
Speaker 9: as Moses faced opposition, but he still continued, we too
Speaker 9: may encounter pushback. Blanke Moses and Aaron, we have to continue.
Speaker 9: Our faithfulness can inspire others. It can contribute to the
Speaker 9: larger narrative of redemption and justice. We just have to
Speaker 9: keep ongoing. So when faced with rejection or misunderstanding, remember
Speaker 9: Moses and Aaron. They continued their mission not because it
Speaker 9: was easy, but because it was right. Our perseverance in
Speaker 9: the face of adversity can be a powerful testimony to
Speaker 9: those around us. And finally, let's embrace the small acts
Speaker 9: of kindness and compassion in our daily lives. It is
Speaker 9: through these acts that we truly bring God's presence to
Speaker 9: a world in deep need of it. May we find
Speaker 9: courage in the story of Moses and Aaron. May we
Speaker 9: stand firm in our calling, knowing that God is with
Speaker 9: us every step of the way.
Speaker 1: You can listen to The Chosen People with Isle Eckstein
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Speaker 1: Com app today. This Prey dog comproduction is only made
Speaker 1: possible by our dedicated team of creative talents. Steve Katina,
Speaker 1: Max Bard, Zach Shellabarger and Ben Gammon are the executive
Speaker 1: producers of The Chosen People with Yile Eckstein. Edited by
Speaker 1: Alberto Avilla, narrated by Paul Coltofianu. Characters are voiced by
Speaker 1: Jonathan Cotton, Aaron Salvato, Sarah Seltz, Mike Reagan, Stephen Ringwold,
Speaker 1: Sylvia Zaradoc and the opening prayer is voiced by John Moore.
Speaker 1: Music by Andrew Morgan Smith, written by Bree Rosalie and
Speaker 1: Aaron Salvato. Special thanks to Bishop Paulinier, Robin van Ettin,
Speaker 1: K Burrows, Jocelyn Fuller, and the team at International Fellowship
Speaker 1: of Christians and Jews. You can hear more Prey dot
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