1. (three chairs are set up on stage. HOST has his own mic, and another handheld
mic is present to passed around to the guests.)
HOST: Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to THE MAIN EVENT, as we get ready
for today’s special edition of Biblical World Wrestling SMACKDOWN!
AUDIENCE: Woooooo! (whoops, cheers and hollers)
HOST: Tonight’s contender hails from Northern Syria, the grandson of the
patriarch Abraham. In spite of a sordid family history, he has risen through
challenge after challenge, but may face his biggest test yet tonight! Please
welcome… JACOB!
(JACOB enters to cheers from the AUDIENCE. HOST hands JACOB the
handheld mic)
HOST: So, Jacob, how are you feeling going into tonight? You ready for the big
fight?
JACOB: Oh yeah! I’m feeling great! I’m pumped up, I’m… (Sigh) well, I’m OK.
HOST: Just OK?
JACOB: I mean, I should feel pumped up, right? My whole life I’ve been
promised that God would bless me and be there for me in times of trouble, but
now… (sits in middle chair) I just don’t know!
HOST: So Jacob, you’ve been promised God’s blessing?
JACOB: (excited) Oh yeah!
HOST: And how did that happen?
JACOB: (embarrassed) Well… uh… um…
HOST: Speak up! We can’t hear you!
JACOB: I, uh… (mumbles) I tricked my dad and stole it from my brother.
HOST: Speak up!
JACOB: (sigh) I TRICKED MY DAD AND STOLE IT FROM MY BROTHER!
AUDIENCE: Ohhhhhhhhh!
HOST: Interesting, interesting… Would you like to tell us more about that?

2. JACOB: (pause) Not really.
HOST: That’s OK! We have some other people who would! Allow me to
introduce, Jacob’s parents: ISAAC and REBEKAH!
(REBEKAH and ISAAC enter, quarreling. AUDIENCE does mixture of cheers,
jeers. ISAAC and REBEKAH sit on either side of JACOB. ISAAC crosses his
arms and looks annoyed, while REBEKAH acts motherly toward JACOB)
HOST: So… Isaac… Rebekah… tell us about your son!
REBEKAH: Oh, I just love my little Jakey! (hug) He was always so sensitive and
caring and-
JACOB: MOM! Not in front of everybody!
ISAAC: (scoffs) This boy is trouble, that’s what he is! I meant for my blessing to
go to my oldest son, but he tricked me, with some help from HIS MOTHER.
(glares at REBEKAH)
REBEKAH: Oh shush. It’s not that big of a deal. And it’s all worked out for the
best now, right? My Jakey has a big family, lots of grandkids for us, and a lot of
possessions, I hear!
HOST: Now, hold on here, hold on… What happened with the blessing?
ISAAC: Well, God had always promised that our family would someday be this
big, powerful nation! I’m an old man and I know my days are numbered, so I
thought I would pass along this blessing to our older son, Esau. Now, he’s a
man’s man! – a great hunter, very strong… unlike momma’s boy, here!
AUDIENCE: Ooohhhhhhhh!
REBEKAH: You hush! (to JACOB) Don’t pay attention to him, sweetie.
ISAAC: So I’m in my tent, waiting for Esau to bring me some lunch, when this
twerp comes in and tells me he’s his brother! My eyesight’s not so good
anymore, and like a dope, I bought it! Next thing I know, I’m passing along God’s
blessing to the WRONG brother!
AUDIENCE: Oooohhhhhhhhhhhh!
REBEKAH: Well, God had prophesied from the very start that the younger
brother was going to be the more powerful of the two! I just helped… move things
along a bit.

3. HOST: Jacob? What are your thoughts?
JACOB: Uhhhhhh… I’m uncomfortable?
HOST: Understandable!
REBEKAH: Meanwhile, (motions at ISAAC) HIS son is on his way to attack my
sweet little Jakey!
AUDIENCE: Whoaaaaaaaaaa!
HOST: Attack? Jacob, is this true?
JACOB: (sighs) So, I ran away from home after I got dad’s blessing because I
thought Esau would kill me! I stayed with my Uncle Laban, and spent many years
there, where I got married and gained many flocks of sheep, camels, and other
animals.
REBEKAH: You tell him, sweetie-
JACOB: (irritated, to REBEKAH) MOM! (turns away from her) Anyway, I prayed
and God said to head home, so I trusted him! But then I sent some messengers
to find Esau, and he’s headed this way right now… with 400 armed men!
AUDIENCE: Whoaaaaaaaa!
HOST: So, God told you to head home, and as a result, your brother is headed
here with an army?
JACOB: (gulps) Yeah, pretty much.
ISAAC: Serves ya right!
(REBEKAH reaches over JACOBS and slaps ISAAC on the head.)
ISAAC: Hey!
JACOB: Um, I think it’s time for my parents to go, right? (looks pleadingly at
HOST)
HOST: Alright, thank you Isaac and Rebekah for coming! (motions for them to
leave. ISAAC and REBEKAH exit stage left, arguing loudly. AUDIENCE cheers
for them.)
JACOB looks relieved, then sighs and buries his face in his hands

4. HOST: Now, now, buddy, it’s OK. (pats JACOB on the back) What’s the matter?
JACOB: I’m just so confused! I mean, God has always looked out for our family,
and now my own brother’s about to kill me and my family!
AUDIENCE: Awwwwwwwww!
JACOB: I want to know where God is! My whole life I’ve been promised I would
be blessed, but now my brother’s coming to attack me and my family, and I don’t
see God anywhere! My father Isaac and my grandfather Abraham both
worshipped God, and God promised me I would be successful and have a big
family. God has given me these things, but now my brother is coming and I don’t
think God is going to protect us! God, do what you promised! Where are you?!
MAN: JACOB! (lights dim)
AUDIENCE: (gasp)
JACOB: (jumps up) Who said that?
HOST: Now Jacob, we have a little surprise for you. You know you’re here to
fight, but do you know who your challenger is?
JACOB: Of course! It’s Esau! He’s going to murder me! Oh man! (starts pacing)
HOST: No, Jacob, no! We have a different challenger for you to face!
JACOB: What? Who?!
HOST: Ladies and gentlemen, give it up for our other contender: THE
MYSTERIOUS MAN!
(THE MAN enters through choir door, shrouded in shadows. AUDIENCE cheers
loudly.)
THE MAN: Jacob! I have come! Are you ready?
JACOB: Ready? For what? (HOST drags JACOB to his starting point, THE MAN
takes his spot)
HOST: LET’S GET READY TO RUMMMMMMMMBLLLLLLLEEEEE!
(JACOB and THE MAN slow motion fight, audience cheers. After a few moments
of slow-mo fighting, THE MAN hits JACOB in his hip joint)

5. JACOB: Owowowowowowowowwwwww! (JACOB winces but keeps holding on
to THE MAN)
THE MAN: Let me go!
JACOB: NO!
THE MAN: Let me go!
JACOB: Not until you bless me!
THE MAN: OK! (the two separate) What is your name?
JACOB: Jacob…
THE MAN: (walking in a circle around JACOB) And what does your name mean?
JACOB: Huh?
THE MAN: Jacob… What does your name mean?
JACOB: (dejected) …Deceiver. Liar. Coward.
AUDIENCE: Ooooooooooooooooo!
THE MAN: You’ve lived up to that name, haven’t you?
JACOB: …Yes.
THE MAN: Jacob, I am going to give you a new name. From now on, you shall
be known as Israel, which means, “One who wrestles with God.” You have
wrestled with God and with men, and you’ve won.
JACOB: Wait… Who are you? What is your name?
THE MAN: (fading his voice) Don’t you know?...... (walks backward through choir
door, exits)
AUDIENCE loudly cheers
JACOB: (standing confused, looking around) What just happened?!
HOST: Israel, congratulations, you’ve won! (Holds up JACOB’s arm, everyone
cheers)

6. JACOB: (realizing) Wait… This was… He was… I’ve seen God face to face, and
I’m still alive! …and man, my hip HURTS!
HOST: But wait, Jacob! (hold hand to ear) I’ve just received word that we have
one more guest.
JACOB: Oh no… it’s not…
HOST: Ladies and gentlemen, give a big hand to… ESAU!
ESAU enters from stage left. AUDIENCE cheers, jeers, etc. JACOB slowly walks
forward, and bows before ESAU.
ESAU: What are you doing?
JACOB: Esau! Can you ever forgive me?
ESAU: Oh, my brother! I’ve… I’ve missed you! (He runs and hugs JACOB.)
AUDIENCE: Awwwwwwwwwwwwww!
JACOB: So you… you WEREN’T coming to kill me?!
ESAU: No, Jacob! I’ve heard how much God has blessed you, and I couldn’t
bear to kill you now! Can we please no longer be enemies!
JACOB: Oh, my brother! I love you! (the two hug again)
AUDIENCE: (even louder, with clapping) Awwwwwwwww!
HOST: So it looks like we have a happy ending! Any parting thoughts, Jacob- I
mean, Israel?
JACOB: All this time, I thought God wasn’t going to keep his promise, but even
though I was selfish and I lied and cheated, he was loyal to me! Even before I
fought the mysterious stranger, I had been wrestling with God the whole time,
wondering if he had forgotten me! Now I know that he hasn’t abandoned me. And
I know that I leave this fight a changed man! (tries to take a step on his wounded
leg) OW!
HOST: Well, that’s all the time we have! Join us next time on Biblical World
Wrestling SMACKDOWN!
(all exit stage left)