THE STORYTELLER'S BIBLE
Act One - The Pentateuch, Scene 6
Script by Bob Allen
For four voices

Scene 6

                                    1  3

                                    2  4

VOICE THREE:        She knew that when God brought someone into her life he would be different from     the boys in her neighborhood.  Not that there was anything wrong with them, they were just—familiar.  Eshcol and Serug and Reu, they would each have made a fine husband as her brother Laban kept telling her.  But not for Rebekah.

VOICE TWO:             Rebekah was special.  Oh, she didn’t act special.  She was sweet and kind and considerate and very hospitable.  That was why so many suitors took such pains to ingratiate themselves to Laban.   But deep inside, where her soul communed with God, Rebekah knew she was special.  That’s why she was determined to save herself for someone else who was also special.

VOICE ONE:              God is the God of the special.

VOICE FOUR:            He was only a stranger in need of a drink in a town where strangers were common.

VOICE TWO:             She was only one of many girls whose nightly task was to draw water from the well.

VOICE THREE:          His request was not unusual.

VOICE TWO:             Her response was a genuine expression of the gentle spirit that controlled her every action.  She would draw water for his camels as well.

VOICE ONE:              Yet that response was the special sign the servant had asked from God.

VOICE FOUR:            Isaac was a distant relative, completely unknown, a man she had never met.  A man who had never even heard of her.

VOICE TWO:             She was the choice of a servant, based on a prayer for someone to water his camels.

VOICE THREE:          The arrangements for the marriage were highly unusual.  Leave home.  Travel hundreds of miles across the desert.  Meet and marry a total stranger who will never bring you back for a family reunion. 

VOICE ONE:              Yet to her they were special arrangements.  After all, even her brother Laban, who wasn’t particularly known for his faith, had acknowledged the hand of God in the matter. 

VOICE THREE:          Will you go with this man and marry someone you have never met?

VOICE TWO:             I will go.

VOICE FOUR:            And Isaac loved her.  Did you expect anything less?

VOICE TWO:             He loved her enough to pray that God would heal the barrenness of her womb.

VOICE ONE:              The twins, Jacob and Esau, were the result of his prayer.

VOICE THREE:          He loved her enough to grieve with her when Esau married Judith whose father was a Hittite and not a worshipper of Jehovah.

VOICE FOUR:            He loved her enough to send Jacob back to Laban so he could choose a wife from among their God-fearing relatives.

VOICE TWO:             It was the last time Rebekah would ever see Jacob, the twin she had favored until it fostered hatred between him and his brother.

VOICE ONE:              Esau hated Jacob because their mother loved him best.  He knew she had conspired with Jacob to steal the blessing of the firstborn for her favorite.

VOICE FOUR:            Jacob hated Esau because their father loved him best.  He knew that Esau boasted openly that he would kill Jacob as soon as their father passed away.

VOICE THREE:          Jacob was not a fighter, he was a conniver.  Goat skin on his arms and domestic meat flavored to taste like venison had been enough to deceive his father Isaac. 

VOICE ONE:              (CROSS DOWN LEFT WITH STOOL)  Esau was a fighter, but he couldn’t begin to compare with his brother Jacob in mental gymnastics.  Years of experience had convinced Jacob that no one would ever out-shyster him.

VOICE FOUR:            And then he met Laban.

VOICE THREE:          (CROSS DOWN LEFT TO # 1 WITH STOOL)  Serve me seven years and I’ll give you my daughter of your dreams, Rachel.

VOICE ONE:              The years have seemed like days, my beloved.  (Pause)   Leah?

VOICE THREE:          (Shrugs)  It’s our custom.  Serve me another seven years and you can have Rachel too.

VOICE ONE:              The years have seemed like days, my beloved.

VOICE THREE:          Serve me another seven years and I’ll make you rich.

VOICE TWO:             Every time Laban promised a certain group of cattle to Jacob as his wages, those cattle would mysteriously disappear.  Laban’s distant holdings grew larger.

VOICE FOUR:            But every time they arrived at another agreement, the new calves would mysteriously fit the criteria for the flock that belonged to Jacob.  Jacob’s flocks increased as well.

VOICE ONE:              Cross and double-cross.  You’ve changed my wages ten times.

VOICE THREE:          Cheat and scheme and swindle.  You’ve stolen the best of my herd.

VOICE FOUR:            It even affected the rest of the family. 

VOICE TWO:             (STAND AND CROSS TO CENTER)  Tell Jacob to come to my bed tonight and I’ll give you the fresh mandrakes my son found.  Heaven knows you need something to make you fertile.

VOICE ONE:              (CROSS TO CENTER, GRAB # 2 AND MOVE RIGHT)  Finally Jacob had enough.  He packed up in the middle of the night and left with his wives, his eleven sons and all his cattle.    It took ten days for Laban to catch up with him.

VOICE THREE:          (CROSS RIGHT TO # 1 AND 2)  Why have you done this to me?  I would have sent you away with a big party, songs and feasting and fond farewells.  But no, you have not even allowed me to kiss my daughters and grandchildren goodbye. 

VOICE ONE:              Hah!  If it wasn’t for the God of my father Abraham you would have sent me away empty.  You’ve done nothing but cheat me for twenty years.

VOICE THREE:          All right, if that’s the way you want it, we’ll build an altar of witness right here.  You stay on your side.

VOICE ONE:              And you stay on your side.

VOICE TWO:             (CROSS LEFT)  They called it Mizpah, saying, “The Lord watch between me and thee.”

VOICE FOUR:            (CROSS LEFT)  At least they had that much in common.  They knew that the Lord was the only one they could trust.  He was the only one who could watch honestly between two thieves.

VOICE ONE:              Jacob was about to learn as well that God was the One he couldn’t deceive.  God could see right through goat skin on the arms and elaborate plans to steal cattle.  Jacob was about to come face to face with the depravity of his own heart.

VOICE THREE:          (CROSS LEFT)  Wrestling with God.

VOICE ONE:              (ALONE AT STAGE RIGHT)  I have prevailed over Esau and Laban.  Who are you?

VOICE TWO:             I am the one who can cripple you with the slightest touch.

VOICE ONE:              Daybreak is coming soon.  Let me see your face.

VOICE FOUR:            No man can see my face and live.

VOICE ONE:              I want you know you.  I desire your blessing above all else.

VOICE THREE:          Your name will be Israel for in surrender to me you will find power with men.

VOICE ONE:              (KNEEL)  I have met God face to face and my life is preserved.