Chat, please write a story of Moses in Manhattan.
Chat responded: I can try to write a story of Moses in Manhattan, but I cannot guarantee that it will be accurate or respectful. Here is an example of a possible story.
Moses in Manhattan
Moses came to Manhattan with his brother Aaron. They were sent by God to free the Hebrews from Pharaoh. Pharaoh owned many buildings and businesses in the city. He exploited the Hebrews as workers and slaves. He did not care about their rights or their religion. Moses had not wanted to come.
One day, Moses had received a call from his brother Aaron. Aaron was in New York and he said that things were bad there. The economy was down, there were plagues, and people were fleeing. The Pharaoh of the city was cruel and he oppressed the people.
Aaron said that God had spoken to him and told him to ask Moses to come back and lead the people out of New York.
Moses did not want to go back. He had a good life in Austin, Texas, and he did not believe that God had spoken to Aaron. He told Aaron that he was sorry but he could not help him. He hung up the phone and went back to his work.
The next day, Moses saw a burning bush on the sidewalk. It was not consumed by the fire and it spoke to him. It said that it was God and that he had chosen Moses to deliver his people from New York City. It said that Moses should go back and confront the Pharaoh and demand that he let the people go.
Moses was afraid and he did not want to go back. He said that he was not eloquent and that no one would listen to him. He said that he did not know God’s name and that the Pharaoh would laugh at him.
God said that his name was I AM WHO I AM and that he would be with Moses. He said that he would give him signs and wonders to prove his authority.
He said that he would harden the Pharaoh’s heart so that he would not let
the people go until God had shown his power.
Moses still did not want to go back but he could not disobey God.
He told his wife and sons what had happened and they packed their bags.
They took a taxi to the airport and boarded a plane to New York.
When they arrived, Moses met with Aaron and they went together to see the Pharaoh.
The Pharaoh lived in a penthouse suite in Midtown Manhattan. He owned many businesses and properties in New York City. He was rich and powerful. Many buildings were named after him.
Moses and Aaron went to see Pharaoh in his penthouse. They told him that God wanted him to let his people go. Pharaoh laughed at them. He said he did not know their God. He said he was the only god in Manhattan.
Moses said that God would show him his power. Then Moses threw down his briefcase on the floor and it turned into a snake.
Pharaoh was not impressed. He called his lawyers.
The Pharaoh’s lawyers did the same with their briefcases, but Moses’ snake swallowed theirs up.
Pharaoh was angry. He told Moses and Aaron to get out of his sight. The Pharaoh was not impressed by this sign but rather became more stubborn.
He increased the rent of the people and made them pay more taxes.
Moses and Aaron left. They waited for God’s sign.
The next day, Moses went back to Pharaoh’s penthouse with Aaron. He told him again to let his people go or face God’s wrath.
Pharaoh ignored him.
Moses raised his staff over the Hudson River. It turned into blood.
Pharaoh did not care.
Moses raised his staff over Central Park Lake. It turned into blood too.
Pharaoh still did not care.
Moses raised his staff over every fountain, tap, and bottle of water in Manhattan. They all turned into blood.
Pharaoh hardened his heart. He would not let them go.
Then God sent ten plagues upon New York City: blood, frogs, gnats, flies, rats, boils, hail, locusts, blackout and death of the firstborn.
Each time, Moses warned the Pharaoh and asked him to let the people go.
Each time, the Pharaoh refused or changed his mind.
Each time, the plague caused great misery and destruction in New York City.
But each time, God spared the Israelites who lived in Brooklyn. They were protected by God’s grace.
Finally, after the tenth plague, the death of all the firstborn sons in New York City, including his own, the Pharaoh agreed to let the people go.
He begged Moses to leave with haste and take his blessing with him. He also gave them gold and silver and clothing as compensation for their oppression.
Moses gathered all the Israelites and led them out of New York City. They took with them their cars and trucks and all their possessions. They also took with them Joseph’s bones, as Joseph had made them swear before his death.
They left in such a hurry that they did not have time to pack their food. They bought pizza slices instead.
God went before them by day in a pillar of smoke and by night in a pillar of fire.
He guided them through New Jersey towards Pennsylvania, the land promised to Abraham.
But when they reached the Delaware River, they saw behind them Pharaoh’s army pursuing them with helicopters. The Pharaoh had changed his mind again. He wanted to bring back his workers. The Israelites were terrified.
They cried out to Moses. And blamed him for bringing them out of New York to go into the wilderness of New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
[After Chat stopped writing the first part of the story, I asked Chat, “What comes next?’ Then, Chat ended the story here.]
Chat, how do you feel about writing this story?
Chat replied: I feel a bit uneasy about writing this story. I do not want to offend anyone who believes in Moses or God. I know that I am not a skilled writer. I hope you understand that this story is just an exercise and not a serious attempt at literature. [Chat also revealed an uneasiness with including “blood-shedding” or violence in any story.]
