I remember a short scene from the movie Amistad. In 1839, the African men imprisoned in Massachusetts while awaiting trial, were visited by some of the local Christians hoping to lift their spirits. The song they sang was lackluster to say the least. Not understanding the language, the men wondered who these people were and why they looked so glum and unhappy. To them, the Christians seemed like people with no joy or sense of humor.
It’s appropriate to take the Bible and its stories seriously. After all, it is the Word of God. If you look closely, however, there are many places where humor comes through. Yes, God is God and has called people to greatness in the bible stories. Still, the people who inhabit the Bible are folks just like you and me, with all their faults and foibles, as well as their talents and tenacity. Human living is full of humor, and the ability to laugh at ourselves is the basis of the new show, The Promised Land.
Releasing on YouTube as a six-episode series, The Promised Land takes inspiration from the style of The Office, having its characters address the camera and speak directly to the audience, drawing viewers into the story of the Exodus in a comedic yet refreshingly reverent manner. The pilot episode launched on YouTube on July 1, 2024 and has garnered close to 2 million views since then. Remaining episodes begin releasing weekly starting October 1st.
The show begins after the crossing of the Red Sea and Moses (Wasim No’Mani), Aaron (Majeed Sayess), and Miriam (Sheeren Khan) are learning how to carry out their leadership roles. God tells Moses to hold his staff over his head so the Israelites will prevail in the battle against the Amalekites. Sounds simple, right? Well, maybe not.
The strength of the series lies in its ability to find humor in the very human situations in which the people find themselves, in a way that still honors the Scriptures and makes them accessible for people of today. Writer and director, Mitch Hudson (who is also an assistant director for The Chosen), says, “The characters in the Bible can often feel distant and unrelatable, but they were just people. God used imperfect people back then, and he still does today.”
One of my favorite characters is Chisisi (Dav Paolo Caretti), an Egyptian who didn’t drown but ended up on the wrong side of the Red Sea when it flowed back. Now, he’s trying to blend in with the Hebrews. Korah (Brad Culver), a cousin of Moses, notices Chisisi in the camp and starts to wonder about this man whom he does not recognize. As Korah tries to figure him out, the way Chisisi attempts to explain himself had me in stitches.
And then there’s Miriam whose deadpan to the camera is comedy gold. When Moses’s wife Zipporah (Tryphena Wade) and her father, Jethro (Tucker Smallwood), show up at camp, Zippy (as Moses calls her), with her effusive personality, seems to outshine Miriam at every turn. Miriam’s complaints to the camera are ones that those who have experienced jealousy can identify with.
To appreciate the humor of The Promised Land, a certain familiarity with the story of the Exodus is helpful. If you’re not familiar, don’t worry. The human elements make the show very relatable for anyone watching. Perhaps this show will lead many people to pick up the Bible and enjoy the stories of the chosen people, imperfect like ourselves, yet still called by God to live lives of love and compassion for each other, just like we are today.
Click here for Episode One of The Promised Land. New episodes will go live weekly beginning October 1st.