Bible Studies

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Then the Lord said to me,
Take a large tablet
and write upon it
in common characters,
Belonging to
Mahershalalhashbaz.
[Isaiah 8:1]
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Isaiah's sitting on a rock,
outside his scrubby backyard.
He's biting on a stick 'a grass,
squinting, and looking
up at the top of his
raggedy tree.
___________________
"HUH, Lord?"

"You heard what I said,
Isaiah. Go and get
that big tablet of
yours."

"Uh uh, Lord!
I was savin that,
to make some drawings
of my new COW!"

"Go and get it,
Isaiah. Now."

"Alright!
Alright!
Just wait a second, Lord!
Don't go ANYWHERE!
OKAY?"

[SIGH.]

(minutes pass.)

"I'm BACK, Lord!
What'd Ya want me
to WRITE?"

"What happened to
your STYLUS, Isaiah?
It's all bitten UP."

"Yeah, well......all
this preaching You're
having me do, Lord....
it's makin me NERVOUS!"

[NOD.]
"I told you not to be
anxious, My child.
Now, are you READY?"

"Yeah, Lord!
Oh! Wait a second, Lord!
Can I go pick some BERRIES?
I'm HUNGRY!"

[PATIENT SIGH.]
"Yes, Isaiah.
I'll wait, Here.
But, don't eat too
many. Remember
what happened, last time."

"Sure thing, Lord!"

(more minutes pass.)

[PATIENTLY WAITING.]

"OKAY, LORD!
I'm BACK!
Now, what'd Ya
want me to WRITE?"

"Mahershalalhashbaz."

"Ma....WHAT, Lord?"

"You heard Me,
Isaiah:
Mahershalalhashbaz."

"Eh......how d'Ya SPELL
that, Lord?"

"It's in your LANGUAGE,
Isaiah! Now LISTEN:
MA!
HER!
SHAL!
AL!
HASH!
BAZ!"

(more squinting)
(some writing, and lottsa biting on stylus.)
(a bunch'a berries get eaten.)
"OKAY, LORD!
I GOT IT!
THANKS!"

"This will be a name, Isaiah.
You're going to have
a son, and call him that."

(squint up at top of tree.)
(a couple more berries get eaten.)
"WHY, Lord?
I mean, HOW COME?
I always sorta liked
the name, 'BOB'!"

"Uh uh, Isaiah.
Forget about it."

(make a face at top of tree.)
(burp up some berry breath.)
"But.....what'd I gonna
tell MRS. PROPHET, Lord?
You KNOW she doesn't
like long NAMES!
Remember what
she called my COW?"

[PATIENT PAUSE.]
"Which one, Isaiah."

"This NEW one, Lord!
REMEMBER: 'CURDSY'?"

[PATIENT NOD.]
"Ah.
Yes, My child."

"See what I MEAN, LORD?"
She ain't gonna LIKE that
name!"

"I'm sorry, child.
You're gonna have to
break it to her."

"Nuh uh, Lord!
NOT ME!
PLEASE?
Can't YOU do it?"

"No, My child.
It's time that
you were BRAVE."

(squint up at top of tree.)
(make another face.)
(burp.)
"Yeah.
Okay, Lord.
If You say so...."
(burp)

"Good, child.
I KNOW you can do it.
I'm COUNTING on you."

(silence)
(top of tree waves in the breeze.)
(fresh smell of berries in the air.)
"Sure thing, Lord."
(sound of mooing in background.)
"Hey, Lord?"

"Yes, My beloved Isaiah?"

"Can I stop WRITING, now?
I have to go see CURDSY!"

"Go on, child.
We'll talk, later."

(burp)

[PATIENT SIGH.]
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And I went
to the prophetess,
and she conceived
and bore a son.
Then the Lord said to me,
Call his name
Mahershalalhashbaz.
[Isaiah 8:3]

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Dedicated to: Denise's
Bible study class.

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