THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS:

A PLAY ABOUT THE RULES

based on Exodus Chapters 20 and 32

CHARACTERS

NARRATOR

GOD

MOSES

MRS. SNORKEL

MR. SNORKEL

BABY SNORKEL

MR. NEIGHBOR

MRS. NEIGHBOR

THE PEOPLE

The set is two-tiered with God above (on Mt. Sinai) and the rest of the characters below. As the play begins, God is in place as the narrator enters from the side.

Narrator: One day God was hanging out on Mt. Sinai.

God: Hi, I’m God. I wonder how my beloved people are getting along?

Baby Snorkel enters to play below.

God: Look, there’s one of the little darlings playing now. How cute.

Baby Snorkel waves to the audience.

Narrator: The little darling was named Baby Snorkel. Soon, Baby Snorkel’s mom, Mrs. Snorkel, came looking for her sweet little child.

Mrs. Snorkel enters.

Mrs. Snorkel: Baby, it’s time for dinner, you need to come in now.

Baby Snorkel: No way, I’m busy. You’re gonna have to wait.

God: (Watching from the Mountain) Hmm, that’s no way to talk to your mother. Didn’t anyone ever teach that kid manners?

Narrator: Just then, Mr. Snorkel rushed onto the scene.

Mr. Snorkel enters

Mr. Snorkel: Did you see what the Neighbors just bought? I want one! Maybe when they’re asleep I’ll sneak over to their house and steal it.

Mrs. Snorkel: That’s a good idea, Dear, do you want me to help you?

Mr. Snorkel: Why, thank you, Dear! Yes, let’s work on this together.

God: I believe in teamwork and cooperation, but not for that kind of thing! Don’t these people know how to get along with each other?

Narrator: The Snorkels went back home to have dinner.

The Snorkels leave the stage.

Narrator: Later that night Mr. and Mrs. Snorkel sneaked into the Neighbor’s house and stole their new possession.

The Snorkels sneak across the stage and then back.

Narrator: The next morning Mrs. and Mrs. Neighbor discovered it was missing. They began to search for it and bumped into Mrs. and Mr. Snorkel.

The Neighbors and Snorkels enter from different sides of the stage.

Mrs. Neighbor: Oh dear, Mr. Snorkel, we seem to have lost something very important to us. Have you seen it?

Mr. Snorkel: No, but I did see Moses sneaking around your house last night.

God: Wait a minute, what’s going on here? That man is accusing someone else of his crime! First he steals, now he’s blaming it on someone else! They shouldn’t do that!

Mr. Neighbor: Really?

Mr. Snorkel: I swear to God.

God: Now I’m really mad; he’s bringing me into this!

Mr. Snorkel: In fact, I swear to lots of gods.

God: What other gods? I’m their God and they are my people, but right now I’d like to trade them in!

Mr. Neighbor: Well, if Moses really stole my stuff, I’m going to go kill him.

They all rush off stage except God.

God: This is going too far! Those people need some rules to live by. I thought they could get along without me telling them what to do, but I guess not. Let’s see, who’s their leader? Oh yea, Moses. I better get him up here before Mr. Neighbor finds him. Moses, Moses, where are you? Get up here this instant!

Narrator: Moses had been working below and heard God call.

Moses enters and looks up to God.

Moses: Yes God, I’m coming.

Moses climbs up the mountain.

God: Moses, I’m very disappointed in my people. I led them out of slavery, gave them food and water in the desert, and they are acting horrible! I want to give them some commandments to live by, so take this down.

Moses: Yes, God.

God: First of all I’m the only God, so they shouldn’t have any other gods before me. Next, don’t swear by me about something that isn’t true. In fact, don’t say things that aren’t true, especially about other people. By the way, remind me to warn you about Mr. Neighbor.

Moses: Yes, God.

God: Tell that little Snorkel child to be nicer. In fact, all children should be more respectful of their parents. Of course, parents should be nice to their children, too. Let’s see, what else, hum, oh yes, no stealing other people’s stuff! In fact, they shouldn’t even want other people’s stuff – if everyone shared, there would be enough to go around!

Moses: Uh, God, what was that about Mr. Neighbor?

God: Oh yea, he thinks you stole his stuff because Mr. Snorkel lied to him, so he’s out to kill you – that’s another good one, no killing each other! There are enough things that can happen to people without them hurting each other!

While God and Moses are talking, the other characters come on below; they have a statue of a golden calf and begin praying to it. Mr. Neighbor is also trying to kiss Mrs. Snorkel.

God: What are they doing now?!

Moses: It looks like they are praying to that silly statue.

God: That’s another one; don’t make statues and pretend they are God! In fact, don’t worship anything but me. And while I’m at it, leave each other’s spouses alone. How many is that?

Moses: Nine.

God: Well let’s make it an even ten. Tell them that I made the world in six days and rested on the seventh, so they should as well. Tell them to use the seventh day to think about what they did all week and pray to me though, not to some golden sheep!

Moses: It’s a cow.

God: Sheep, cow, whatever. I really love my people and want them to be happy and treat each other lovingly, not horribly.

Moses: Gee, thanks, God. We love you too.

God: So go tell them.

Moses starts down the mountain; there is thunder and lightening and all the people stop and look up at him.

Moses: God noticed we weren’t treating each other very well, and that we were hurting one another, so here are some rules that will make things run better. God commanded it, OK? Let’s go back to my tent and I’ll read them to you.

Everyone goes off stage except God and the Narrator.

God: I hope this helps. I love them all so much, even when they do bad things. If everyone followed my commandments, the world would be a much better place for everyone.

Narrator: The end. Or rather, the new beginning.

Deepening Faith: Youth Ministry Resources and Some Miscellaneous Advice

Rev. Lizann Bassham, Front Porch Spirit Press