God brought a large cast together!
The director always has a lot of reminders to give!
Warming up and getting excited about our last dress rehearsal!
"Grandma, Grandma, can you tell me a story?" "What kind of story, Obed?"
"Did I ever tell you how he met his wife?" - "That doesn't sound very exciting!"
"Well, that story might be okay..."
Israelites come out in their family groups; dividing the cast into family groups helped keep everyone organized, and ensured each young one had someone older making sure they got where they needed to get at the right time!
We had some great dads fill out the cast - we always seem to be lacking men!
"When will we move?"
"When the Lord tells Joshua it's time."
Mara's pessimistic comments are interrupted by young girls playing "Manna-cake" (to the tune of patty cake): "Manna cake, manna cake, in desert land; fall from heaven as fast as you can!"
"Bake it, or boil it, or fry it in a pan! Gather and eat it till we reach the Promised Land!"
"All our lives we've heard stories of the land that's ahead; some fact" - "Mostly fables!"
"Will it bring us a refuge and safety in which to live?"
"The Promised Land - what will it hold in store?"
"Can we stand against the giants and the city walls so tall?"
"Will we finally have a home or will our nation fall?"
"Will it complete all our many hopes and dreams?"
"The Promised Land; for it I plead..."
"Please make it the rest our nation needs."
"The people are restless, Joshua. When are we going to move?" "Caleb, God hasn't told me yet..."
Early one morning, Joshua listens as God instructs him...
"My hands are not strong enough for the task, but God will supply all the strength that I lack."
After Joshua sings alone, the people gather around to hear what he learned from God. "Be strong and very courageous..."
"We'll follow our leader to enter the land!"
"We'll be strong and very courageous, for the Lord goes with us wherever we go!"
"Courageous and strong we'll be!"
The people cheer to hear they'll be moving in 3 days!
"I'm sending you two to survey the land - especially Jericho."
"We get to be spies! I've been dreaming about this my whole life!"
"Remember what happened last time spies were sent out? And remember - we're to blend in." "Yeah, but this time's different; with you and I, things can't go wrong!"
"Oh yeah? Remember the donkey?"
"You did wear the tunic!"
"I'm a prosperous grape merchant!"
"And I'm not going with you anywhere in your stuck-up city-boy duds."
Salmon makes Eli change his disguise a bit.
"Now Rahab, I understand your dislike of the business, but - " "No buts, mum. I'm through."
"Who are those men?"
"Psst - hey! Yes - you!"
"Hurry! I'm trying to help you!"
"Rahab! What are you doing?" - "Something tells me I should help them."
Rahab isn't buying the spies' cover up
"Oh come on!"
"Canaanite men don't wear scarlet!"
"Aw, manna cakes! I thought our disguises were good!"
"What is the meaning of this?"
"Some strange men came to me, but I didn't know where they were from!"
"Go after them, quickly! You may catch up with them!"
C. Spect commands his men
Iram, Rahab's dad, comes in at exactly the wrong time!
"Yeah, we gave them quite a beating!"
"Promise me that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters..."
Rahab lets the spies out of the window, since they obviously can't leave through the city.
It's one way to get out!
"...unless you've tied this scarlet cord in the window."
Contemplating what she's doing by displaying the cord.
"It's just a cord of scarlet on which we hang our lives..."
"I'll be strong in midst of trouble; I'll not doubt, though others fear."
"Though it's just a cord... of scarlet."
"Have either of you seen Salmon recently?"
"Okay, Mara. Out with it!"
"I saw Joshua pull them aside after the gathering. All hush-hush, a trip to his tent, and then - "
"Poof! They're gone!"
Meanwhile, Keturah has entered, unnoticed, and heard them discussing her husband Eli's disappearance.
"Or perhaps they've been captured, or killed by giants!"
"What if Mara's right? What if he's not coming back? What if - "
"Eli? You're safe!"
"Later, Mara." - "We need to report to Joshua first!"
"Eli!" - "But, we're back safely..."
"Give me your report."
Each of the spies try to share the story in his own way.
Camping on the banks of the Jordan... "And now, we wait!"
"You see, flood stage is not the time to be crossing a river!"
"I thought you wanted to move!"
Snapping to "River Blues" as they wonder how they'll cross.
"With the waters at flood level can we survive without a loss?"
"The impossibility just makes me quiver!"
"The God who made the red sea part will surely make a way."
"God will get us across this river!"
"As soon as the priests carrying the Ark set foot in the Jordan, it's waters flowing downstream will be cut off and stand up in a heap."
Going into the river by faith
"Woah! It's parting!"
"Let's go - you first!"
Crossing the Jordan
Carrying stones across to set up as a memorial
Adding stones...
One by one...
Trying to make sure they don't fall!
"Hey! Don't climb on the memorial!"
"Big deal - it's just a pile of rocks!"
"It is a big deal. Those rocks are very important."
"I liked it! My mom said she's going to have to learn how to cook all over again!"
"No more manna cakes..."
"But as Commander of the Army of the LORD I have now come."
Falling down in fear
"Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy."
"See - I have delivered Jericho into your hands."
"As you march... do not say a word." - "What!?"
"Until the day comes to shout in the power of the Lord!"
"We'll be strong and very courageous..."
"We'll trust in our God to come to our aid!"
Meanwhile, the guards are getting tired of standing guard at Jericho.
"The Israelites have been encamped for days without making a move. What are they waiting for?" - "I don't know."
Rahab tries to reason with her mum, Zibiah, and sister, Hephzibah.
When they hear the horns, the guards go crazy. - "Stand strong, men!"
The Israelites march by.
Everyone is confused by what they're doing.
With a last blast on the horns, they march away.
"That's it? Synchronized walking?"
"They have a lot of people, but they're nothing against THIS wall."
On the 4th day of marching, Rahab is up early to watch the sunrise.
"He brings us strength with the sunrise, for each passing day..."
"Strength with the sunrise... and peace as we pray." Rahab is so grateful for her sister Tirzah.
The horns keep blasting as they march again.
Rahab's family is getting bored and annoyed; suddenly, they hear a pounding on the door again.
"How kind of you to come by for your regular 'tell me more' visit."
"What part of 'the men came and left' don't you understand?"
"Aha! What's this?"
"Commander, is it unlawful for my daughter to display scarlet? I thought that honored the king!"
"Yes, commander!"
On the 7th day, the Israelites march around 7 times before stopping. - "Now, shout! For the Lord has given you this city!"
The walls begin to shake...
And the walls crumble, leaving Rahab's house standing firm.
A dance of celebration!
The Israelite women stay in rhythm
Swirls of color as everyone moves together!
Formations...
The little girls weave through as the middle girls skip down the aisles, as the them of "Joshua fit the battle of Jericho" weaves through the music
Lots of people to fit in the dance!
Everyone ends up together!
Arms up and smile - for the glory of God!
"Remember this?"
"How could I forget? You saved it?"
"Salmon, those dreams died for me years ago!"
"I'm willing."
"If you really mean it..."
It's amazing the number of ways we wove this prop into the story!
"I do."
"We'll display this cord with courage..."
"We won't be discouraged, and won't be afraid."
"Wow! That was a good story, Grandma!"
"Now, what about you, Obed?" - "I'll be strong and courageous too!"
