Moses is the current musical being performed at the Sight and Sound Theater in Branson, Missouri. It is one of our favorite shows!
The first time I saw this performance I had the opportunity to attend with friends who were not familiar with the story of Moses. I thought perhaps there were others that would like to know about this incredible character before seeing the Musical, Moses.
There are many books and websites you can visit to find scholarly views and, for sure, articles that have been written by pastors and teachers of the bible. This is not that book, article, or website! This is just a simple synopsis to help you before you see the Moses production by Sight and Sound Theater.
Moses is the story of one of my favorite characters in the Bible. There are a myriad of truths and lessons to be learned from the life of Moses. Moses had weaknesses, fears, and for sure grew up in a dysfunctional family. Maybe some of this is the reason I like him!
Moses was an Israelite. Israelites were God’s chosen people. The Israelites had been in captivity in Egypt for more than a hundred of years. They were kept in Egypt as slaves and ruled over by Egypt’s Pharaoh or king. Pharaoh was worried the Israelite population was getting too large and that they would grow to overpower the Egyptians. Egypt’s Pharaoh ordered all Hebrew baby boys to be killed.
Moses’ mother hid her baby boy. She made a basket and sent her baby down the river and prayed God’s protection over him. Pharaoh’s daughter found the basket with the baby boy and decided to raise the baby as her own. Moses’ sister was following the basket down the river. She saw Pharaoh’s daughter rescuing him. Pharaoh’s daughter called to his sister and told her to find a woman to nurse the baby. Of course, she went and got his mother. So, Moses mother got to nurse and love on her own baby. He was sentenced to death. God used the very people that had sentenced him to death to protect him.
Moses was raised as an Egyptian. He was being prepared to become the next Pharaoh. As a man he realized his place was not with the Egyptian’s but with the Israelite’s. However, in his anger he murdered an Egyptian and then fled Egypt. It was in his wandering that he started a new life and then began his own family. It is also when he met God, the great I AM.
God told Moses to go back to Egypt. It was time for God’s people to be free. Moses did not feel confident in what God was asking him to do. He went anyway. After doubting, being laughed at, but being obedient Moses obeyed. God used Moses to lead his people out of bondage. It took multiple plagues for Pharaoh and the Egyptian leaders to believe Moses and to agree to let God’s people go.
After God’s people were released Moses led them into the wilderness where God again protected them from the Egyptians. Moses continued to talk with God and even received the 10 Commandments while in the wilderness. Moses led God’s people even when they did not obey God. God continued to provide for them as they made their way to the promised land.
Sight and Sound does a beautiful job recreating so many of the important events from the life of Moses. There are live animals and an incredible depiction of the water being parted for God’s people to pass through on dry land! An amazing cast and set is used to tell the stories of God’s greatness and faithfulness. We have seen Moses with people of all ages and everyone is always glad they experienced it!