A PRINCE OF EGYPT ADVENTURE BOOK 1--JOSHUA

DELIVER US

Just fresh off my success with my very first mission as Sorcerer a few weeks ago, I had been briefed by Zazu about this new one--I had to help a young mother save her baby.

Of course, I had known about the story of Moses, from the readings in the synagogue where my father taught, and at a Catholic church, where I usually would go with my Mama's sister who had converted to Christianity, marrying someone in the faith... but I didn't really realize that I was going to literally go backwards in time in order to help this young mother.

I used my Scepter to go a few thousand years into the past, and I literally had to get past the Egyptians, and conceal my identity as a Hebrew. I used magic to change into ancient Hindu clothes, and a turban to keep my dark hair away from my cream brown face. To some, it looked like I was a wandering shah.

Mud

Sand

Water

Straw, faster!

Mud, and lift!

Sand, and pull!

Water, and raise up!

Straw!

"FASTER!!!" One Egyptian guard snapped at one Hebrew slave and whipped him, causing me to flinch with empathy as this was one of my ancestors.

With the sting of the whip on my shoulder

I saw another Egyptian whip another Hebrew slave, causing me to flinch again.

With the salt of my sweat on my brow

Elohim, God on high

Can You hear Your people cry?

Help us now

This dark hour

Deliver us!

Hear our call, deliver us!

Lord of all, remember us

Here in this burning sand!

Deliver us!

There's a land You promised us!

Deliver us to the Promised Land!

I was able to go past and I transformed into traditional Hebrew garb once I was safe. I entered the Hebrew side and I asked around for a young woman named Yocheved. I was able to find her, before I had heard Egyptian soldiers approaching in the distance.

I introduced myself to the frightened young woman, who looked beautiful, with long dark wavy hair, tan brown skin, dark eyes filled with worry. She wore a dark blue robe, and a red head scarf on her head. With her were her children, whom she introduced as Miriam, and Aaron. Miriam seemed to be the oldest of the three, Aaron being younger. In her arms was the youngest, a little baby with dark curly hair, tan brown skin and dark eyes.

Yal-di ha-tov veh ha-rach

Al ti-ra veh al tif-chad.

My son, I have nothing I can give

But this chance that you may live

I pray we'll meet again

If He will deliver us! Yocheved hugged her son to her nervously as the soldiers came closer, and we heard the grief filled and desperate screams of the mothers who were losing their babies. I realized that the Pharaoh had sent the soldiers to kill the babies.

Deliver us!

Hear our prayer, deliver us!

From despair

These years of slavery grow too cruel to stand!

Deliver us!

There's a land you promised us!

Deliver us out of bondage and

Deliver us to the Promised Land! My ancestors kept up their cries.

"What do we do?" I asked quietly, obviously nervous.

"I know a way. Follow me," Yocheved explained.

"Okay," I nodded.

I followed Yocheved and her children down a pathway, and dodging the guards along the way. We kept running until we found a spot on the Nile River. Yocheved had brought a basket full of reeds and some blankets for the little baby. I took a drink from the Nile, minding my heart.

The baby cried.

Hush now, my baby

Be still love, don't cry

Sleep as you're rocked by the stream

Sleep and remember my last lullaby

So I'll be with you when you dream. Yocheved calmed, and the baby fell asleep. Yocheved kissed her baby's cheek, and put the basket top on, obscuring him from view.

"You think he'll make it?" I asked.

"He must. I believe my son is the one who'll deliver our people from bondage." Yocheved said softly, trying to compose herself.

"I know he will." I nodded, knowing in my heart that this baby would one day become a leader according to the Old Testament of the Bible.

River, o river

Flow gently for me

Such precious cargo you bear

Do you know somewhere he can live free?

River, deliver him there. Yocheved prayed. I could sense her grief, and her determination, and it made me cry silently.

Miriam and I went ahead and watched the basket as it drifted while Aaron stayed with Yocheved. We watched with bated breaths as fish jumped over, and crocodiles tried to snap at it, and boats kept nudging it until finally, it headed to the palace of the Pharaoh, were we saw that a Queen was playing with her little son. Seeing the basket, she took her son aside, and looked inside, and saw the baby, and her heart melted.

Miriam and I breathed a sigh of relief.

Brother, you're safe now

And safe may you stay

For I have a prayer just for you

Grow baby brother

Come back someday

Come and deliver us too! Miriam said before heading back to the Hebrew side of the Nile to report that the baby was safe.

I however, stayed, transforming again to the "wandering shah", under clear instructions by Zazu to look after the baby once I helped Yocheved save her baby. I stayed in the shadows.

"Mommy?" The little toddler asked running after his mother. He had brown skin, much like his mother, and a shaved head, with a ponytail on one side of his head.

"Come, Rameses! We'll show Pharaoh your new baby brother...Moses." The Queen said gently, bopping baby Moses' nose tenderly, while the baby cooed.

Deliver us!

Send a shepherd to shepherd us

And deliver us to the Promised Land!

Deliver us to the Promised Land! My ancestors kept their prayers up as I followed the Queen, little Rameses and baby Moses.

Deliver us! Yocheved prayed.

I had fulfilled the first part of the mission. But I knew there was another task to this mission, and that was going to be very hard.

I had to reveal to Moses his true origins once he got older.