The Exodus Starts Now
Plus: A free trip to NYC to celebrate
Hello! Hope you’re well. Here’s the latest:
And So It Begins
I can’t belive I’m saying this, but Holy Ghost Stories Season 4 is LIVE. This is your official invitation to immerse yourself in a story where staffs slither, bushes burn, seas split, and Yahweh yearns to be known.
Kendall Ramseur’s score is just fantastic. The tale of the Exodus is truly epic. And I’m having a blast getting to craft this telling of such an iconic, world-changing story. May you encounter God in it again and again.
Bits and Bobs
Shiphrah & Puah - These unsung heroes of the Book of Exodus take center stage in this episode as they single(double?)-handedly mount a resistance against Pharaoh’s genocidal decree. I loved spending time with these two amazing women. We gave them their own musical leitmotif as an expression of subversive spirit of divinely-inspired civil disobedience they demonstrate so courageously.
It’s Verdant - Say the word “Egypt” to the average person and among the things that inevitably spring to mind are endless expanses of golden sand, bone dry and desolate. But the Egypt the Israelites knew was quite the opposite. In fact, the Nile delta continues to be one of the most fertile places on earth. This explains the “Why did you bring us out to this wasteland to die?” sentiments they express when they find themselves cornered outside of their lush “home”land.
By the way, the Nile delta is where the Rosetta Stone was found. And have you heard of Heracleion, “Egypt’s Atlantis”? Fascinating sutff. It’s sunken a few miles off the (now) northern coast of the delta.Moses’ Birth - Jochebed, along with the rest of the (many) Hebrew women giving birth in Egypt, would have make use of a birthing stool—a raised platform atop which a mother would deliver her baby from a squatting position. Here’s a stone relief I came across at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilizations (NMEC) in Cairo depicting the process (aided by the gods):
I wouldn’t have guessed it, but midwives in the modern West will tell you that it’s much more comfortable for a woman to give birth this way than on her back in a bed. I’ll let the ladies start the #bringbackthebirthingstool movement, though.
The Basket - In Cairo, the NMEC had a collection of baskets on display, all dating from around the time of Moses. They’re in absolutely stunning condition considering they’re 3,500 years old, right? Here’s one that seemed like the kind of thing Jochebed and Amram would have been able to produce:
Lots more of this stuff, btw, over on Instagram—and more to come as we move from episode to episode.
Moses’ Arc - After spending so much time with Moses over the past several months and asking myself questions from a Moses-as-protagonist-of-our-story perspective, I’m convinced that Moses’ personal journey has everything to do with identity. Is he a Hebrew? An Egyptian? A Moabite? Who is he, and who are his people? Where is home for him? These are questions that seem to haunt Moses throughout his life and come to a head when Yahweh calls him to lead Israel to freedom. We’ll trace this journey throughout the season and mark milestones along the way.
Hoopoes - There’s a scene in this episode where we spend a moment with the birds present for Pharaoh’s daughter’s morning bath in the Nile. They’re all indigenous to that region of Egypt, of course, but I’d never heard of one before our trip to Egypt this summer. Take a look at the hoopoe, the most Egyptian-looking bird I can imagine:
Very Egyptian, right? But twist! It’s the national bird of Israel. Take that, Pharaoh.
Leitmotifs - Kendall Ramseur’s masterful score for Season 4 is rife with attention to detail. One example of this is the inclusion of several musical leitmotifs that act as themes for certain people, places, or ideas. Here’s a summary of what to listen for during the first couple of episodes and where to listen for them:
Okay! Without further ado, here’s part one of The Exodus: “Labor & Delivery.” I hope it transports you.
APPLE | SPOTIFY | GOOGLE | AUDIBLE | ETC
Debrief
If you’ve listened to Episode 1 already, do reply and let me know what you thought. Did you have a favorite scene? Was there an unexpected moment for you? Did you see anything afresh? (If you hated something, that’s cool; just keep it to yourself for now and wait ‘til next week to email me—I’m a bit raw the day of an episode release.😀)
I’m Sending One of You to The Met ✈️
To celebrate Season 4’s premiere, I’m giving away the best Egypt-centric experience you can get right here in the USA: Airfare to New York City, two nights in a hotel, and admission to the Metropolitan Museum of Art where you’ll get to experience their incredible Egyptian collection.🙌 I LOVE this collection (26,000 objects spanning thousands upon thousands of years) and I’m thrilled to be able to send one of you to go see it—what better way to enhance your experience of Season 4??
Here’s how to enter: Forward this email to someone who’s into Bible stuff or Holy Ghost Stories stuff or whatever stuff you think makes sense. (Don’t just forward it, of course; give them a quick reason you think they’d dig The Latest.) Screenshot your email, reply here with your screenshot, and voila! You’ve earned a whopping 5 entries. Want another five? Send it to somebody else. No limit, so go crazy if you’re in the mood.
You have until midnight tonight, so don’t dilly dally.
I’ll announce the winner tomorrow! (Grand prize will be awarded in the form of $1,000—that should cover airfare for two, a reasonable hotel for 2 nights, and admission to the museum. Two runners up will receive a shiny new HGS hooded sweatshirt.)
My Latest Obsession
My wife (and HGS script editor) JL Gerhardt had me on her Look to Love podcast last week, where we talked about the Hebrew midwives and my latest obsession.
Anselm Society Interview
Enjoyed this interview on the Believe to See podcast with folks from The Anselm Society, a Colorado Springs organization calling for “a rennaisance of the Christian imagination.” Count me in. Love what they’re up to and enjoyed talking HGS, my storytelling influences, and more.
(Here’s the Apple Podcasts link if Spotify’s not your thing.)
4 Cool Things
Surfing Blind - This guy is a blind surfer. Fascinating to hear him talk about his front foot as his ‘cane.’
Careful Words - This thesaurus project includes substantive quotes (lots of poetry) with each entry.
Ramen Railroad - Have you seen this?! A train in Japan now runs on leftover tonkotsu ramen broth. That’s using your noodle.
Eyes - Just eyes.
That’s the latest! Hope you’re blessed by “Labor & Delivery” Let me know what you think about the beginning of Season 4—I truly love hearing from you.
Gratefully,
Justin
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