The Old Stories: Moses Episode 1 Recap, Review, & Analysis

Kevin Keating
May 14
15 min read

Updated: Jun 4

The Old Stories: Moses is a three-part mini-series adapting the biblical story of Moses’ encounter with God in the Burning Bush, the confrontation between Moses (Sir Ben Kingsley) and Pharaoh (O-T Fagbenle), and the exodus of the people of Israel from slavery in Egypt. It’s also the first spin-off of Wonder Project’s House of David series, with David’s father Jesse (Louis Ferreira) serving as the storyteller in the frame narrative. Below I’ll share a recap of Episode 1 ("The Calling"), which focuses on Moses’ encounter with the burning bush (Exodus 3:1-6), God’s call for him to return to Egypt (Exodus 3:7-22), and how God overcomes his doubt by giving him miraculous signs (Exodus 4:1-17). We also get a brief flashback to how Moses murdered an Egyptian overseer and sought to hide him (Exodus 2:11-12). I’ll also share my review of the episode and (eventually) my analysis of key themes and ideas. You can also check out my discussion of Episode 1 and its unique format on The Bible Artist Podcast and my review of Episode 2 here.

How to watch The Old Stories: Moses

To watch The Old Stories: Moses, you can sign up for a 7-day free trial of the Wonder Project subscription (affiliate link). After the trial, the subscription costs an additional $8.99/month on top of the normal cost of Amazon Prime.

Sir Ben Kingsley as Moses in The Old Stories: Moses from Wonder Project — Sir Ben Kingsley as Moses encountering God in the burning bush in The Old Stories: Moses Episode 1 from Wonder Project

What Happened in The Old Stories: Moses Episode 1 "The Calling"?

Episode 1 begins with a brief vignette in which David kills a serpent before it can kill one of the lambs of his flock. Carrying the lamb home, he finds his father, Jesse, telling the story of Moses to his younger sister, Avva (similar to the opening of House of David Season 1). Jesse opens by explaining that when you are lost or confused and don't know what to do, you only need to ask one question: what is in your hand. He then launches straight into the story of Moses, a shepherd who watched over a flock long before David, and the night that God spoke to him from the burning bush.

Jumping back to 1446 (the early/more literal dating for the Exodus), we see Moses returning back to Zipporah in the Midianite camp, grasping onto his staff and unable to speak for some time. When his wife finally coaxes him into speaking, he expresses doubt as to whether she will believe he lost his mind but nevertheless begins to tell her of how, while he was shepherding, he saw a bush burning, without being consumed (Exodus 3:1-3). At first Zipporah wonders whether he had a dream or vision but he insists that what he saw was as real as she is and indeed has followed him home, after speaking his own name, Moshe (Exodus 3:4).

Moses (Ben Kinsley) and Zipporah (Anna Khaja) in The Old Stories: Moses — Moses (Ben Kinsley) and Zipporah (Anna Khaja) in *The Old Stories: Moses*

We then get the remainder of Moses' encounter with God, following the biblical text very closely (God's speech is in fact all in Hebrew). After warning him to remove his sandals (Exodus 3:5), God reveals himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and calls Moses to return back to Egypt, the land of his birth, where his people are in bondage (Exodus 3:6-9). This catches Zipporah by surprise - Moses hasn't told her about his enslaved kinsmen or his upbringing as an Egyptian prince. When Moses questions who he is to bring the people out, God insists that he will be with him (Exodus 3:11-12). When Moses asks what name he will give to the people, God reveals himself as "I am who I am," and promises to be with him (Exodus 3:13-15).

Moses continues to fear that the Israelites will doubt him and so God has him throw down his staff, turns it into a snake, and then has him pick it back up, turning it back into a staff. He also makes Moses' hand leprous and then heals it (Exodus 4:1-7). Moses protests that he is slow of speech, but God reminds him that he is the one who made man's mouth and who will teach him what to speak (Exodus 4:10-12).

After Moses finishes recounting the story, Zipporah and Avva (in the frame) question what he will do and if he will in fact confront this Pharaoh that he once knew as a brother. Jesse (in the frame) explains that Moses did what every man must: he decided whom he must fear and whom he must serve and confronted his past failure, when he took justice into his own hands (Exodus 2:11-12). As he says this, we see Moses retrieve the dagger he once used to kill the Egyptian (as Pharaoh himself retrieves a blade of some sort), as Moses prepares to return back to Egypt.

Review of The Old Stories: Moses Episode 1

The Old Stories Moses upends a variety of conventions and expectations, which makes it an interesting but somewhat difficult show to review. And I'm not just talking about the extensive (and sometimes quite obvious) use of AI. Episode 1 is only 18 minutes long. As my summary above suggests, it's basically two nested frame narratives (Jesse telling a story to Avva, in which Moses tells a story to Zipporah) intertwined with a single dramatic scene (Moses' encounter with God). Although that scene includes some spectacles like the bush burning without being consumed and Moses' staff turning into a snake, the entire episode is dominated pretty heavily by dialogue, between Moses and God, Moses and Zipporah, and Jesse and Avva. In a lot of ways, it feels more akin to a short stage drama (with special effects) than it does to a normal show.

Honestly, I'm still on the fence about what I feel about it. There are several elements that I appreciate:

Biblical Fidelity: Some critics of House of David have complained about how much it expands upon the base of the biblical text. By contrast, the narrow scope of Episode 1 allows The Old Stories: Moses to follow the biblical text quite closely. We do get a few ellipses, mostly with regard to Canaan and God's plan for what Moses will do when he returns. Skipping these beats makes sense - Canaan would raise a lot of questions that go beyond the scope of the episode and we don't need to hear the details of God's plan when we're about to see it happen in Episode 2. Moreover, because the encounter with God is contained within two frame narratives, it's even possible that these moments occurred but were not depicted. The frame narratives themselves are quite limited and should not be controversial and basically exist to draw out the future significance/application of the story (Jesse narrative) and the emotional significance of the story for Moses (Moses/Zipporah narrative).
God in Hebrew: I appreciate the decision to keep God's speech in Hebrew for a few reasons. As far as I can remember, this is the first instance of direct divine speech in the House of David universe. If there's anywhere that the show should strive to be more conservative in its approach to the biblical text, it's here. Also, from a storytelling perspective, putting the speech in Hebrew gives the moment a sense of strangeness that's quite appropriate to the moment. Encountering the wholly-other presence and voice of God would feel quite alien and strange. Moreover, if God did indeed speak to Moses in Hebrew, the language may actually have slowed him down a bit, as it does to viewers of the show, who have to read the subtitles. Keep in mind that Moses grew up in an Egyptian household and then spent forty years among the Midianites, who presumably did not speak Hebrew.
Innovation: I am all in favor of trying new things and seeing what works. I'll wait to draw any final conclusions about the unique decision to do a series composed of short 20 minute episodes until I've watched the entire series. But regardless I applaud the decision to try something that's truly outside the box. I could see this type of format proving quite effective for adapting a number of biblical stories that don't necessarily require a fuller/expansive series. The format also explains how Jon Erwin was able to pull this together in such a short time period and utilize such high caliber performers.
Ben Kingsley: While there weren't any moments that totally blew me away, Ben Kingsley brings a level of innate gravitas that makes his performance immediately compelling.
Frame Narrative: The decision to set the story within a David frame narrative makes a lot of sense. The parallel of David and Moses both being shepherds is obvious but significant, and a great insight for the show to drive home. The frame also provides the show with an easy expositional short-cut that make the short run-time possible. But the more important function of the frame is to drive home the thematic resonance of Moses' story, both for David and for viewers. Given the short run-time, TOS:M has less space to develop its themes, so this is particularly important. But it's also just a great way to model for viewers how they are supposed to engage with the "old stories" of Scripture and apply them to their own lives. I also look forward to seeing how TOS:M brings a deeper sense of significance to House of David by giving us a sense of what David has in his head as he faces Goliath. Watching TOS:M feels quite similar to reading the appendices of The Lord of the Rings (or The Silmarillion), which provides an additional layer of meaning/context for the next time you read the main narrative.

But there are a few aspects of Episode 1 of The Old Stories: Moses that give pause:

Lack of character development: The short run-time means that we aren't given much time to sit with Moses and Zipporah and understand who they are and their relationship. If Moses never told Zipporah about his past in Egypt, what did he tell her about who he was and where he came from? Why isn't she a little more shocked (and annoyed) to discover that her husband isn't who she thought he was? How often did Moses think about his past before his encounter with God? Was it constantly plaguing his conscience or had he moved on? Where does his lack of confidence in himself come from? Are his objections to God honest concerns or evasions? Episode 1 raises so many questions that I want answers to, but I suspect won't get from the series. Viewers of modern shows are trained to expect answers to these types of questions and it leaves the experience of the show a bit unsatisfying.
Audience Investment: One of the reasons that dramatic shows are usually longer than twenty minutes is because they have to take time to make viewers care about the story and characters, by setting up the stakes and showing us why the characters are sympathetic, admirable, etc. TOS:M doesn't have time to develop a rooting interest in its story and characters and so it largely has to lean on our pre-existing emotional investment. We get brief cuts to the suffering of the Israelites and allusions to Moses' past. Again, Kingsley's performance also has an innate compelling quality. But the show is largely relying on the expectation that we care because we've read the Bible and/or watched House of David. That probably will be enough for most viewers, but it will limit the appeal of the show to anyone who isn't a Bible reader and/or viewer of House of David.
Zipporah: I think both the writing and performance of Zipporah is a little weak. I wish they had given her a little more personality so it didn't feel like she was just an expositional tool.
AI: I actually wasn't that bothered by the AI. The AI depiction of the enslaved Israelites was pretty glaring, but because it's a brief cutaway and not an integral part of the main narrative, I could get over it pretty easily. Whatever AI that went into the burning bush worked far better and was less obvious. It'll be interesting to see if it feels more distracting in future episodes, where the AI feels more present in the primary narrative. Of course, I know some viewers will object to the use of AI at all - but if that's your viewpoint, there's nothing else that can really be said. Having now seen what this show is (i.e. a glorified one-act play), I think it's even more understandable that they did what they did. There's no way you get funding to do CGI or practical sets, costuming, etc. for a project of such a limited scale.

Like I said, I'm still mulling over what I think about The Old Stories: Moses. But I think that's actually a sign of what a unique/innovative show this is. Shows and movies that follow the typical script are easy to evaluate - you can grade them against a thousand other examples that are doing the exact same thing. When you come across something unique, you have to slow down and ask yourself, What is this? Do I like what it's doing? I'm looking forward to the experience of processing through those questions, regardless of what I ultimately conclude.

Key Themes of The Old Stories: Moses Episode 1

There are two closely connected themes in Episode 1 that I want to explore:

Moses’ Identity vs. God’s Identity

The name and identity of both Moses and Yahweh are central to the biblical account of the burning bush encounter in Exodus 3-4. Episode 1 keeps this as a central theme and even amplifies it through Moses’ conversation with Zipporah afterward.

At the start of the burning bush encounter, we see that there is a contrast between Yahweh’s knowledge of Moses and Moses’ knowledge of Yahweh. Following the biblical account, Yahweh initiates his conversation with Moses by calling out his name twice (v. 4). In Hebrew, addressing someone by using their name twice is a sign of relational intimacy (c.f. Samuel and the Lord in 1 Samuel 3:10, Jesus and Martha in Luke 10:41, or Jesus and Simon Peter in Luke 22:31). Yahweh wants Moses to know that he is no stranger - he has an intimate knowledge of who Moses is and where he comes from. The Old Stories draws our attention to this subtle point by having Moses recount to Zipporah with amazement “he (God) knew my name.” This should also draw our attention to the fact that Moses doesn't know Yahweh’s name at the start of the encounter. Even after Yahweh declares that he is the God of Moses’ ancestors (v. 6), Moses still has to ask what his name is (v. 13).

In the Bible, there's more to knowing the name of a person than merely knowing the sounds you should use when addressing him (or her). It's about having personally experienced that individual’s power and character. Later in Exodus, Pharaoh will dismiss Moses’ call to let Israel go by saying, “Who is Yahweh that I should obey his voice and let Israel go? I do not know Yahweh and moreover, I will not let Israel go” (Exodus 5:2, ESV). I'm doing so, he is drawing attention to the fact that he has never experienced Yahweh’s power and therefore feels no motivation to obey his commands. When Yahweh goes on to strike Egypt with the ten plagues and drown their chariots in the Red Sea, he repeatedly explains that it is so that Pharaoh, the Egyptians, and the Israelites may know that he is Yahweh (the LORD) (e.g. Exodus 6:7, 7:5, 8:10, 9:14, 10:2, 14:4, 14:18). To reveal his name to them, he must let them experience his power and character either in salvation or judgment.

When Moses encounters Yahweh, he is ignorant of the divine name, not just cognitively but (more importantly) experientially. That is why it's not enough for Yahweh to declare “I am who I am” – he must allow Moses to experience his miraculous power, first through the burning bush, then through the transformation of his staff, and finally through the infection and healing of his hand with leprosy. Moses is coming to know what it means for his ancestral God to be Yahweh, the creator of heaven and earth.

As Moses comes to know Yahweh’s name and identity, it should inspire faith and confidence in him. That's particularly necessary because what Moses knows about his own name, identity, and strength inspire a lack of confidence in him. When Yahweh reveals himself, Moses hides his face (Exodus 3:6) and when he calls Moses to lead the Israelites out of bondage, Moses asks, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” (Exodus 3:12). Even after Yahweh reveals the divine name, Moses continues to doubt on account of his own weaknesses, insisting that the people won't believe or listen to him (4:1), that he isn't eloquent enough (4:10), and that Yahweh should send someone else instead (4:13). Each time Moses insists on the inadequacy of who he is, Yahweh responds by revealing more of who he is and promising to be with him (3:12, 3:14-15, 4:2-9, 4:11-12).

The Old Stories amplifies this dynamic in a few ways during Moses’ conversation with Zipporah. As he recalls what happened, Moses seems to doubt whenever he is focused on himself (e.g. questioning his own sanity), but he seems to increase in confidence whenever Zipporah draws attention to the voice of God itself (e.g. he insists that it is more real than even she is). The show also calls our attention to one of the main reasons Moses has to doubt himself – his murder of the Egyptian that led to his forty year exile. Returning to Egypt means confronting Pharaoh and his own past, something he isn't confident he can do. The fact that (in the show) Moses has apparently never told Zipporah about his past (either the slavery of his Israelite kinsmen or his upbringing in the house of Pharaoh) further highlights his shame and lack of confidence. As the series progresses, I expect this shame and lack of personal confidence will continue to be a force that Moses has to overcome through faith in who Yahweh has already revealed himself to be in this episode and who he will continue to show himself to be through his mighty acts.

What’s in your hand?

Jesse’s account of the story of Moses is in response to a rhetorical question he raises at the start of the episode. He asks what you should do if you are ever lost, confused, and don't know what to do. In response, he says you should ask yourself, “What is in your hand?” Yahweh asks Moses this exact same question later in the episode (4:2). We can understand the significance that The Old Stories assigns to this question by looking at the two objects that we see Moses holding during the episode: a sword/dagger and a staff.

The sword that Moses uncovers near the end of the episode is clearly meant to be the weapon that he once used to strike down the Egyptian overseer who was abusing his fellow Israelite (Exodus 2:12). In the Bible, the sword is often a symbol of human power and self-reliance. Quite relevantly, when David confronts Goliath, he declares, “You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied” (1 Samuel 17:45, ESV). David is contrasting his own faith in Yahweh with Goliath’s faith in his own power and strength. Back when Moses had a sword in his hand, he was relying on his own power to deliver Israel.

By the time Yahweh asks Moses what he has in his hand, Moses has put aside his sword. Instead, he is carrying a staff. In the context of the Bible, a staff is often associated with authority and leadership. The Old Stories certainly picks up on this – Moses’ staff is the instrument through which he will demonstrate his prophetic authority, by turning the staff into a snake and turning the Nile into blood. The authority delegated to him by the creator of snakes, rivers, and blood is what Moses must trust in to accomplish his purpose, not a sword

But I think the staff has an additional layer of significance. It is also a reminder of Moses’ failure and frailty. The reason why Moses has a staff in hand when he encounters God is because he is an exile, doomed to watch over a flock of sheep in a foreign land. He's also an old man, too frail to walk on his own. The staff in Moses’ hand should be a reminder of how he has failed to deliver the people in his own strength and no longer has much strength left to give.

That the sign of Moses’ weakness is also paradoxically a sign of his authority resonates quite well with the New Testament vision. The cross is both a sign of Jesus’ weakness and his glory, his suffering and his kingship. God reigns not through human strength but through human weakness. As Jesus says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3). Or, as the Apostle Paul explains, “God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God” (1 Corinthians 1:27-29, ESV).

I'm looking forward to seeing if The Old Stories explores the connection between Moses’ weakness and his authority and power. I have no doubt at all that we will certainly return back to the contrast between relying on human power (the sword) and relying on the authority of God (the staff).

What did you think of The Old Stories: Moses? Is there anything I missed in my review? Let me know in the comments below!

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2 Comments

Julia Duin

May 14

We'd love to watch this, but it was only yesterday that I figured out that Amazon was charging us $9.93/month to stay connected with the House of David series. I just canceled it as no new material (that I knew of )had come out in five months. And now this! Can you make it clear to readers what it costs to watch this stuff, how Amazon is connected with it all, etc? And are all the episodes up right now? It's truly confusing.

Kevin Keating

Replying to

It has been a bit confusing. Yes, subscribing to Wonder Project is an additional cost either monthly, annual, or in a package. Wonder Project is a subscription channel on Amazon but is an independent Christian-lead organization. Only Episode 1 is currently up - they'll be releasing weekly. I'll try to clarify some of this soon - thanks for pointing this out.