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Act One
Moses hears the voice from the burning bush imparting the idea of the „one eternal, omnipresent, invisible and unimaginable God“. The voice orders him to tell his people the news, as they are the chosen people of the one true God; he is also told that he will lead his people out of Egyptian bondage. When Moses voices his doubts about his ability to do this, saying that he is clumsy of tongue and that, although he has the ability to think clearly he lacks the power to convince, the voice promises that Moses‘ brother, Aron, will be his mouthpiece.
Aron is delighted with the part he must play in fulfilling the destiny of the Israelites. The brothers cannot, however, agree on how this is to be done, since Aron doubts that the people will be able to love a God which they cannot imagine.
The Israelites are living in captivity, under a much severer yoke since Moses slew the overseer. The news that he and Aron are on their way to them with the message of a new God is received with mixed feelings among the Israelites. While some dream that a new God will deliver them from Egyptian bondage, others fear that even more blood will be spilled.
Moses proclaims the one and only God to the Israelites, while Aron tries to formulate the concept in such a way as to make it comprehensible to them. As the people remain suspicious of the invisible God, Moses feels that he has failed, but Aron takes matters into his own hands: with the help of miracles he makes this God visible and therefore easier to understand for the people. In spite of a priest’s warning of the difficulties involved in crossing the desert, the Israelites are now ready to follow Moses into freedom.
Interlude
Moses has left the Israelites and has been on Mount Sinai for forty days. Unease and annoyance are spreading among his people.
